PARIS (Reuters) - French farmers have blocked access to oil depots and refineries with tonnes of onions, wood and rubble, as part of a three-day protest over plans to allow Total TOTF.PA to use imported palm oil at a biofuel plant. Farmers are concerned about the impact on locally produced oilseed crops, further souring relations between the EU’s biggest agricultural sector and the government of President Emmanuel Macron. Many welcomed Macron’s call for fairer prices for farmers as part of a food chain review last year, but they have been angered by the government’s attempt to phase out weedkiller glyphosate before other EU countries. Farm Minister Stephane Travert said on Monday the farmers’ blockades were illegal and the government would not rescind the decision to allow Total to use imported palm oil. A total of 16 sites were blocked on Monday afternoon, France’s largest farm union FNSEA (National Federation of Agricultural Holders’ Unions) said on Twitter. Total’s 253,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Gonfreville refinery and nearby oil depot, its 109,000 bpd Feyzin refinery, the 220,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Donges refinery and 102,000 bpd Grandpuits refinery were among those blocked by farmers. The oil and gas producer operates five refineries and nine petrol depots in France. It said on Monday morning the blockade by farmers had not had an impact on operations. Slideshow ( 5 images ) It urged clients not to rush to petrol stations to fill their tanks, which could spark panic buying and shortages. French authorities last month gave Total permission to use palm oil as a feedstock at its La Mede biofuel refinery in southern France, infuriating farmers who grow crops such as rapeseed. Environmentalists also blame palm oil cultivation for deforestation in southeast Asia. The mostly symbolic blockade at La Mede was lifted around midday with farmers returning to work, according to a Reuters photographer on site. Organisers say the farmers’ blockades are aimed at pressuring the government into curbing palm oil use at La Mede and to address other grievances such as imports of South American meat. “Our target is the state,” FNSEA’s Lambert said, adding Total’s decision on palm oil was “the last straw”. Widespread fuel shortages were not expected, however, given France’s network of seven refineries, 200 fuel depots, emergency fuel reserves, and the absence of sympathy action by fuel sector workers. Slideshow ( 5 images ) Palm oil is cheaper than rapeseed oil as a feedstock for biodiesel. French farmers say its growing use has added to their competitive disadvantage because of high taxes and strict environmental regulations in France. Total argues its plans call for using less palm oil than allowed by the authorities, offer an outlet for local rapeseed and will develop large-scale recycling of used oil and fat. Palm oil has been criticized in Europe for environmental destruction and some lawmakers are pushing for a ban on its use in biofuel as part of new European Union energy targets. France has said it would oppose a full EU ban but junior ecology minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Monday Paris wanted to cap and progressively cut palm oil imports. The issue of palm oil use has caused friction with Indonesia and Malaysia, the two largest palm oil producers, with Malaysian officials warning of trade repercussions that could affect a potential deal to buy French fighter jets.<doc-sep>François Nascimbeni, AFP | Farmers block access to a refinery on June 11, 2018 in France during a demonstration called by farmer’s unions to protest plans to import palm oil for use in biofuels. French farmers blocked access to 13 refineries across France on Monday to protest plans to import palm oil for use in biofuels, a move they denounce as unfair competition. Advertising Read more Energy giant Total wants to import up to 300,000 tons a year of palm oil, which environmental advocates say has caused massive deforestation chiefly in southeast Asia. French rapeseed and sunflower growers, who say they will lose out due to Total's imports, accuse foreign palm oil producers of failing to respect the regulatory requirements European producers must follow. Farmers parked tractors in front of refinery gates while dumping piles of haystacks, dirt, manure and potatoes. "France imports several products that don't respect the rules applied to French farmers. It concerns South American meat and Spanish wine as well as palm oil," said Damien Greffon, who leads the FRSEA farmers' union in the Paris region. The protests are a sign of growing anger in France's farming communities which have so far not mobilised in large numbers against the government of President Emmanuel Macron since his election. Public sector workers and railway staff have held regular demonstrations and strikes against the pro-business reforms introduced by the new centrist government since May 2017. The farmers' protests began late Sunday and have been called for three days because "dialogue has broken down" with the government, Greffon said. Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert said Monday that the government would not back down, adding that he would meet with unions as well as biofuels producers to discuss supplies and pricing. "I want Total and biofuel producers to reach an agreement on a base price and a contract that will benefit rapeseed producers," Travert told RTL radio. He also said there was no risk of a shortage of gasoline from the refinery blockades, though farmers have warned they are prepared for a long strike. "We're not against imports... but for consumers, we want the government to be consistent and apply the same rules to imports, otherwise French agriculture will disappear," said Samuel Vandaele of the Young Farmers' union outside a Total refinery southeast of Paris. Longstanding grievances Total's chief executive Patrick Pouyanne has pledged to buy 50,000 tons of French rapeseed, also known as canola oil, as part of the 650,000 tons of oil which will be used each year at the La Mede refinery outside the southern city of Marseille. The farmers also have the support of environmental activists, and are hoping to rally support among consumers worried about unfair competition stemming from free-trade accords, including the CETA deal between the EU and Canada as well as ongoing talks with the EU and South American Mercosur nations. "In South America the average cattle ranch has 24,000 cows, while in France we have on average just 80 -- and yet we're always being told to be more environmentally friendly," said Christiane Lambert, president of the FNSEA farmers' union, France's biggest. Besides a ban on palm oil imports, she wants the government to outlaw agriculture imports produced using fertilisers, herbicides and other products prohibited in the EU as part of an agriculture law that will be debated in the Senate starting June 26. Lambert is also calling for lower social charges on seasonal workers, "which are 27 percent higher than in Germany and 37 percent higher than in Italy." The government has said there is no risk of fuel shortages from the blockades, since seven refineries are still operating. (AFP) Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe<doc-sep>
François Nascimbeni, AFP | Flags of the FNSEA union hang on a road sign as farmers block access to the Vatry refinery, east of Paris, on June 11, 2018. France's main farm union called early on Wednesday for protesters to continue a blockade of refineries and fuel depots after the government failed to ease their concerns over the use of imported palm oil at local biofuel plants. Advertising Read more "We have worked a lot but we did not get enough. We are disappointed given farmers' involvement," Christiane Lambert, head of the FNSEA union, which organised the protests, said after meeting with Agriculture Minister Stéphane Travert. Oil and gas major Total said on Tuesday that 3.5 percent of its petrol stations in France had run out of fuel after two days of blockade disrupted distribution. The protests were triggered by France's decision to allow Total to use imported palm oil at a biofuel plant, which would compete with biodiesel made from locally produced oilseed crops, further souring relations between the EU's biggest farm sector and the government of President Emmanuel Macron. The blockade concerns a total of 18 refineries and depots across France. Total, which operates 2,200 petrol stations, said all nine of its depots and all but one of its five refineries were blocked. "There are some difficulties in supplying petrol stations particularly in Paris and the Ile-de-France region," a Total spokesman said Tuesday. Total has urged customers not to rush to petrol stations to fill their tanks, which could spark panic buying and shortages. French authorities last month gave Total permission to use palm oil as a feedstock at its La Mede biofuel refinery in southern France, infuriating farmers who grow crops such as rapeseed. Environmentalists also blame palm oil cultivation for deforestation in Southeast Asia. Total argues its plans call for using less palm oil than allowed by the authorities, offer an outlet for 50,000 tonnes of locally produced rapeseed, and will develop large-scale recycling of used oil and fat. But Lambert, the FNSEA union leader, said 50,000 tonnes was "not enough" and that the price needed to be based on producers' costs, not on palm oil prices. (FRANCE 24 with REUTERS) Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe