The UK has deployed its oil tankers to help solve the oil crisis as more waves are reopened across the country indicating that fears could be reduced.
Trade Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng announced that a state-run 80 tank will be on the streets on Wednesday afternoon to encourage the supply of oil to petrol stations across the country. “The cars are driven by ordinary people and have provided additional power for the oil industry,” he said.
The announcement came as the Petroleum Retailers Association, which represents independent retailers that make up two-thirds of the UK’s 8,000 sites, said about 27% of its members had no fuel on Wednesday. This compared to 37% on Tuesday, and about 50 to 90% on Sunday and Monday.
“There are compelling indications that the problems with pumps are decreasing,” said Gordon Balmer, PRA chief executive.
Oil and retailers – including BP, Shell, ExxonMobil and pilot Hoyer Petrolog – said they met with Kwarteng on Wednesday and received a shipment of government vessels.
“We are confident that things will improve in the coming days and encourage everyone to fill in as they help the courts to return to normal,” the group said in a statement.
The government has been under a lot of pressure to help with the crisis, which began with a slowdown in the arrival of oil at the petrol station last week due to a shortage of heavy-duty motorists. It was followed by a shopping spree that slowed down the weekend and disrupted the legs as motorists rushed to repair their cars.
Balmer said the PRA had received reports that petrol workers had experienced “illegal” harassment and harassment by customers last week. “Experts are trying to keep track of the lines and make sure there is plenty of fuel to flow.”
Government cargo ships are a pool for private companies to rent, stored in warehouses in West Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire. Residents of the state say the ships have not yet been cleared due to “operational difficulties” among commuters, as factories are expected to provide drivers from those who are working.
Experts say the companies have applied to use the zoo after telling the minister that they have more drivers than tanks, after changing the system,
Officials have said they have issued temporary visas to 5,000 foreign HGV drivers to help deal with unemployment in companies that have caused oil problems, but the law will take some time to help.
Currently, the government is preparing 150 military personnel to help carry oil around the country. One staff member at Whitehall said fuel tanker training courses began on Tuesday and workers “would be ready to be dispatched this week if necessary”.
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Kwarteng, however, also noted that things appear to be going well, indicating that many oil stations are receiving more fuel. “Once we all get back to our shopping habits, things start to go back to normal.”
Despite being encouraged, Steve McNamara, general secretary of the License Taxi Drivers’ Association, said its members did not see any “real change”. The council, he says, says between 20 and 25% of its members failed to work on Wednesday because they could not find fuel.
“Most areas have no oil and when you find one, you are in line for a while,” he added.
McNamara called for a significant list of users to be introduced as was the case in 2000, saying this “could lead to a problem”.
“At the moment this government seems to have no other choice but to stay there and say ‘don’t be afraid’,” he added.