Avril shuts down two biodiesel plants following wage protests

In France, Reuters reports that Avril has decided to stop production at its two Saipol biofuel plants following wage protests by workers. Production halted on February 1 at its largest facility near the Port of Rouen as well as another as protests kept the company from being able to purchase rapeseed for feedstock. Short-lived protests were held at another two facilities but didn’t force a shutdown. The company typically crushes 3.5 million metric tons of rapeseed annually to produce 1.3 million tons of biodiesel.