Crisis at fuel pumps is ‘ending’, says Petrol Retailers Association

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents the interests of the independent forecourts across the UK, declared on Wednesday (29) that “crisis at pumps is ending” and only less than half of the forecourts reported being out of fuel.

“There are early signs that the crisis at pumps is ending, with more of our members reporting that they are now taking further deliveries of fuel,” Gordon Balmer, PRA Executive Director said, adding that fuel stocks remain normal at refineries and terminals, although “deliveries have been reduced due to the shortage of HGV drivers”. 

“We have conducted a survey of our members this morning and only 37 per cent of forecourts have reported being out of fuel today. With regular restocks taking place, this percentage is likely to improve further over the next 24 hours,” Balmer said on Wednesday (29).

Many gas station pumps ran dry in British cities on Monday (27) while vendors rationed sales as a shortage of truckers strained supply chains to breaking point. Pumps were either closed or had signs saying fuel was unavailable.

Drivers reportedly queued for hours to fill their cars at petrol stations that were still selling fuel, albeit often rationed. There were also calls for National Health Service (NHS) staff and other emergency workers to be given priority.

PRA, which represents independent fuel retailers accounting for 65 per cent of all the 8,380 UK forecourts, had said that members had reported that 50 per cent to 90 per cent of pumps being dry in some areas earlier this week.

Fuel suppliers had also assured earlier that the situation will get back to normal soon.

“There is plenty of fuel at UK refineries and terminals, and as an industry we are working closely with the government to help ensure fuel is available to be delivered to stations across the country,” said a joint statement from the fuel industry, which included the BP (BP.L), Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) and ExxonMobil’s (XOM.N) Esso.

UK prime minister Boris Johnson in a televised speech told Britons on Tuesday (28) not to panic buy.

“We now are starting to see the situation improve. We are hearing from industry that supplies are coming back onto the forecourt in the normal way and I would just really urge everybody to go about their business in the normal way,” Johnson said in televised remarks.