JAKARTA - About 90 per cent of the UK's public gas stations have run out of fuel as a result of panic buying by the public, deepening a supply chain crisis triggered by a truck driver shortage that retailers have warned could destroy the world's fifth-largest economy.
A dire post-Brexit truck driver shortage emerged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, wreaking havoc through the UK supply chain in everything from food to fuel, raising the specter of disruption and price hikes ahead of Christmas.
Just days after Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government spent millions of pounds to prevent food shortages from surging prices for natural gas, the biggest cost in fertilizer production, ministers called on people to refrain from panic buying.
But queues of dozens of cars weaved from gas stations across the country on Sunday, depleting supplies and forcing many gas stations to simply close. Pumps in British cities were either closed or had signs saying fuel was not available on Monday, Reuters reporters said.
The Association of Gasoline Retailers (PRA), which represents independent fuel retailers who now make up 65 per cent of all UK front pages, said members had reported between 50 per cent to 90 per cent of pumps running out of fuel in some areas.
"Unfortunately we are seeing panic buying fuel in many areas of the country," said Gordon Balmer, executive director of PRA, who worked for BP for 30 years.
"We need calm. Please don't panic buying, if people drain the network, then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy," he said.
Meanwhile, Britain's Environment, Food and Rural Minister George Eustice said there was no shortage of fuel, urging people to stop panic buying. He said there were no plans to get soldiers to drive trucks, although the Defense Ministry would assist with testing truck drivers.
Carriers, gas stations and retailers warn that there is no quick fix, however, due to a shortage of truckers, estimated at around 100,000 - very acutely and because transporting fuel demands additional training and licenses.
For months, supermarkets, processors and farmers have been warning of a shortage of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers, breaking supply chains, making it harder to get goods on shelves.
Amid warnings of a dire winter ahead, some politicians in the European Union have linked supply chain stresses to the 2016 Brexit referendum and Britain's subsequent decision to seek distant ties with the bloc.
"The labor free movement is part of the European Union, and we are trying very hard to convince Britain not to leave the Union," said Olaf Scholz, the Social Democratic candidate to replace Angela Merkel as chancellor of Germany.
"They decided differently. I hope they will overcome the problems that come from it," continued Scholz.
Meanwhile, British ministers insist Brexit has nothing to do with the current shortage of truckers, even though some 25,000 truckers returned to Europe before Brexit. The UK was also unable to test 40,000 drivers during the COVID-19 lockdown.
In light of the truck driver shortage, the UK Government on Sunday announced plans to issue temporary visas to 5,000 foreign truck drivers.
Separately, Edwin Atema, head of research and enforcement at the Netherlands-based union FNV told the BBC EU drivers were unlikely to flock to the UK given the conditions on offer.
"The EU workers we spoke to are not going to the UK on short-term visas to help the UK get out of trouble of their own making," Atema said.
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