Public works contractors set up a roadblock in Nantes to protest against rising fuel prices.

"Public works and landscaping companies, with their union, the CNATP, which I represent, have decided to mobilize in the face of the price increases of GNR, non-road diesel, and diesel for other vehicles," Andrea Lemasson, general secretary of the CNATP of Loire-Atlantique, told AFP.

The surge in fuel prices was caused in particular by the near-blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

A filtering roadblock began around 7 a.m., causing traffic delays, according to Bison Futé (the French traffic information service). The protest, involving about thirty vehicles blocking this major road, is expected to end around noon, the CNATP (National Confederation of Transport Workers) stated.

"Today we have companies that are very weakened by the economic situation and by the difficult winter. Today we are asking for better support on taxation," explained Ms. Lemasson.

The rise in fuel prices "is drastically increasing costs, without companies being able to revise quotes made six months ago. So, we have projects where margins are shrinking to almost nothing while cash flow is weakened. We are really in danger," she added.

Previous protests, notably by truck drivers, have taken place on the Nantes ring road in response to soaring fuel prices.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu promised last week that new "targeted" aid would be announced at the beginning of the week.