A month-long strike at three French LNG terminals has forced operator Elengy to declare force majeure, squeezing Europe’s gas supply and hiking prices as winter nears. Unions vow to stay out until demands are met.
For European energy traders, the alarm bells started ringing weeks ago. Now, they’re blaring. A month-long strike by workers at France’s top liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals has thrown operations into chaos, prompting operator Elengy to issue force majeure notices for three key sites—and sending European gas prices ticking upward just as the continent braces for colder weather. It’s a crisis no one wanted, but for those on the frontlines, it’s been brewing for months.
The Strike: Which Terminals Are Paralyzed, and Why?
The trouble centers on three of France’s four LNG terminals, all run by Elengy: Montoir on the west coast, and Fos Tonkin and Fos Cavour in the south. Since late August, workers with the CGT union—one of France’s most powerful labor groups—have blocked ships from discharging their cargo, bringing operations to a near-standstill. The last ship unloaded at Fos on September 12; Montoir saw its final delivery on September 21, according to data. As of late September, three fully loaded LNG carriers sit anchored offshore, waiting in limbo.
The issue? Money. Workers say their salaries haven’t kept up with inflation, which has gnawed at paychecks across Europe. “We’re the ones keeping Europe’s gas flowing, especially after Russia cut piped supplies,” a CGT union representative told reporters last week. “We deserve pay that reflects that responsibility.” With no deal in sight, unions warned Friday the strike could stretch beyond Elengy’s current October 2 target date—adding fuel to the fire.
Force Majeure: What It Means for Europe’s Supply
When Elengy declared force majeure earlier this month, it wasn’t just a legal formality—it was a admission that the company can’t fulfill its contracts. For European utilities and energy providers, that’s a nightmare. France isn’t just a gas user; it’s a vital hub. Since 2022, when Russia shut off most piped gas to the EU, France’s LNG exports to neighbors like Germany and Italy have skyrocketed. It’s also Europe’s top buyer of Russian LNG, with much of that supply flowing through Montoir.
The impact is already showing up in prices. The Dutch TTF benchmark—Europe’s main gas price gauge—jumped 1.3% last Thursday, driven by the terminal disruptions. While increased flows from Norway (where maintenance just ended) softened the blow Friday, analysts warn the reprieve could be short-lived. “France is like a bottleneck in Europe’s gas network,” explains Clara Bennett, an energy analyst. “When it clogs, everyone feels it.”
Winter Looms: Why This Strike Could Get Ugly Fast
What makes this strike so risky is timing. Europe’s gas storage sites are in decent shape—on track for adequate fill by late October, per Energy Aspects analysts—but lower LNG deliveries could erode that buffer just as demand spikes. Colder weather and weaker wind power (which reduces reliance on gas for electricity) are already expected to push gas use higher next week. A prolonged strike, Bennett says, “opens the door to serious price volatility this winter.”
On social media, the anxiety is palpable. The hashtag #LNGStrikeEurope has been shared over 30,000 times on Twitter, with small business owners venting about rising energy costs. “My café’s gas bill is already up 20% this year—can’t afford more,” tweeted @ParisBistroOwner. Facebook groups for European homeowners are filled with questions about locking in rates before prices surge further. For families still recovering from 2022’s energy crisis, it’s a familiar, sickening feeling.
The Standoff: Will Talks Break the Deadlock?
So far, neither side is backing down. Elengy has declined to comment on specific salary offers, but union leaders say negotiations have gone nowhere. The French government, meanwhile, has stayed largely quiet—avoiding the kind of high-profile intervention seen in past transport strikes. “This is a private sector dispute, but it has public consequences,” says a source close to the energy ministry. “No one wants to pick a fight with the CGT, but no one wants a winter gas crunch either.”
For now, all eyes are on October 2. If Elengy can’t resume operations by then, and unions follow through on their threat to extend the strike, the ripple effects could spread far beyond France. “We’re not trying to hurt anyone,” the CGT representative said. “But we’re not going to be taken for granted.”
As the sun sets on the anchored LNG carriers off France’s coast, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Europe has spent two years shoring up its energy security; now, a labor dispute threatens to unravel that progress. For workers, it’s about fair pay. For families and businesses, it’s about affordable heat and electricity. And for Europe, it’s a reminder that even the strongest energy networks are only as reliable as the people who run them.
“This strike isn’t just about LNG,” Bennett says. “It’s about who pays the price for Europe’s post-Russia energy transition. Right now, it’s looking like all of us.”