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French oil major Total has announced today that all of its six refineries in France have returned to normal operation following disruption due to a workers' strike, Reuters reports.

"The strike has ended," a Total spokesman said.

The announcement follows a strike on Wednesday by workers at Total's 343,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Gonfreville refinery, who were later joined by staff at the country's other refineries on Thursday as part of a general strike.

The protests were organised a week after Total announced it planned to shed some 250 jobs in the French refining sector as it reduces capacity at the Gonfreville plant, the country's largest refinery located in northwest France.

Yesterday's day of action saw refinery workers demand the government and businesses do more to protect jobs and pay during the economic crisis.

According to Total, however, the impact of Thursday's strike on production was "limited", a company spokesman said.

France has 13 refineries with six owned by Total and the others owned by Petroplus, Ineos, ExxonMobil and LyondellBasell.

On the Mediterranean Coast, Total sources marine fuel from its La Mede facility, which is conveniently situated near the main bunkering centres of Fos, Lavera and Marseilles. Total also has access to bunker fuel from the 231,000 bpd Donges refinery.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil sources product from its 140,000 bpd Fos-sur-Mer Refinery, whilst BP utilizes the 220,000 bpd Lavera Marseilles Refinery to supply fuel to the bunker market in the Mediterranean.