Bassens, France – Farmers have escalated protests by blocking access to the DPA oil depot since Wednesday evening, coordinated by Rural Coordination 33, disrupting fuel supplies and signaling broader discontent within the agricultural sector.
Farmers Block Oil Depot, Plan Paris Protest Amid Trade Concerns
French farmers are intensifying demonstrations over agricultural policies and trade agreements, impacting energy infrastructure and threatening further disruptions.
- Around 40 tractors have occupied the DPA oil depot in Bassens since 10 PM Wednesday.
- The protest centers on a protocol for culling livestock during outbreaks of nodular dermatitis.
- Farmers are also voicing opposition to the upcoming EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, scheduled to be signed January 12.
- Authorities are advising motorists to avoid the area around the depot.
- Rural Coordination 33 is also calling for a demonstration in Paris on Thursday.
The blockade, initiated by Rural Coordination 33 (CR), involves approximately 40 tractors stationed at the DPA oil depot in Bassens since 10 PM on Wednesday. The farmers are primarily protesting the protocol established for the slaughter of livestock in the event of an outbreak of nodular dermatitis, a contagious skin disease affecting cattle.
Beyond the immediate health concerns, the farmers are also demonstrating against the impending free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, the South American trade bloc, which is slated for signing on January 12. This agreement has sparked fears among European farmers about increased competition from South American agricultural products.
The Gironde prefecture is urging drivers to steer clear of the affected area, as access to the depot and surrounding roads, including the D113 leading to the quays, are currently blocked. Traffic is heavily impacted around the nearby roundabout.
