Overcome Gas Station Vacancies, UK Deploys 150 Troops To Drive Fuel Tanker Trucks

Illustration of a fuel tank truck. (Wikimedia Commons /Lommer)

JAKARTA - British authorities ordered soldiers on Wednesday to start driving fuel tanker trucks, to fill public gas stations (SPBU) which have been vacant due to panic buying by the public this week.

Britain has been gripped by a rush of panic buying that has seen gas stations in major cities run out of fuel, after oil companies warned they didn't have enough tanker drivers to move gasoline and diesel from refineries to gas stations.

Opponents blame the crisis on the government's incompetence and its unyielding approach to Brexit, which have deterred drivers from the European Union since Britain left the common market this year. Meanwhile, London said the disruption was partly an unexpected result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said 150 troops would pilot the tanker within days, and civilians would start deliveries on Wednesday using the government's reserve fleet of about 80 vehicles.

"The last few days have been difficult, we saw big queues. But I think the situation is stable, we are putting petrol in the front yard. I think we will see our way through this," Kwarteng said, citing Reuters September 30.

PM Boris Johnson has tried to allay concerns, saying supplies are back to normal, while at the same time urging people not to make panic buying.

The UK is known to be experiencing a shortage of around 100,000 truck drivers, causing chaos in the food and fuel supply chains, emptying store shelves and rising prices ahead of Christmas.

Asked if he could guarantee that there would be no problems ahead of the busy retail period, Kwarteng said, "I can't guarantee anything. What I'm saying is, I think the situation is stable."

In the wee hours of rush hour there are already long lines of cars at gas stations in and around London and on the busy M25 orbital motorway around the capital. Signs were posted on several sites announcing no fuel available.

The congestion has sparked calls for doctors, nurses and other essential workers to be given priority access to fuel, a move PM Johnson has opposed.

Industry groups said the worst shortages appeared to be in London, the southeast and other British cities. A fight broke out as the drivers jostled.

Separately, the Association of Gasoline Retailers (PRA), which represents independent retailers who account for about two-thirds of Britain's 8,380 gas stations, said around 27 per cent of its member petrol stations had run out of fuel, down from 90 per cent two days ago.

More front pages are reporting receiving deliveries and the situation is likely to improve further in the next 24 hours, but staff are experiencing a completely unacceptable high level of verbal and physical abuse," said Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of PRA.

To address the shortfall, the government said it would issue temporary visas to 5,000 foreign drivers, a move that was previously sidelined after PM Johnson campaigned for tougher border restrictions, as part of the Brexit decision.

"What we want to do is make sure we have all the necessary preparations to get through to Christmas and beyond, not just supplying gas stations, but all parts of our supply chain," said PM Johnson.

Carriers, gas stations and retailers say there is no quick fix as the shortage of drivers is acute, while transporting fuel demands training and licensing. European drivers may also be reluctant to accept the visa offer, which is only valid until December 24.