British drivers continue to queue for fuel, many stations still closed

Record ID: 1639123

  • Title: British drivers continue to queue for fuel, many stations still closed
  • Date: 29th September 2021
  • Summary: KENT, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 29, 2021) (REUTERS) CARS QUEUING TO ENTER SHELL FUEL STATION CARS QUEUED SHELL SYMBOL CARS SLOWLY TURNING INTO SHELL STATION MOTORIST SITTING IN VEHICLE PETROL PRICES ADVERTISED ON SIGN, MOTORIST GETTING OUT OF CAR PETROL STATION ATTENDANT TYING PLASTIC BAG OVER FUEL PUMP CARS QUEUED AT SHELL STATION/MOST PUMPS OUT OF FUEL SIGN, READING (English): "No diesel. Only V-power unleaded available" VARIOUS OF SIGN, READING (English): "Sorry out of use" OVER FUEL PUMPS/ PLASTIC BAGS OVER PUMPS CARS QUEUING ON ROAD/CARS IN SHELL FUEL STATION CARS QUEUING TO ENTER SHELL STATION EMPTY TEXACO FUEL STATION SIGN, READING (English): "NO FUEL"/EMPTY FUEL STATION VARIOUS OF EMPTY TEXACO FUEL STATION SIGNS, READING (English): "Sorry out of use" OVER FUEL PUMPS NUMBER '8' ABOVE FUEL PUMPING STATION/FUEL PUMPS COVERED IN PLASTIC BAGS LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 29, 2021) (REUTERS) EMPTY BRITISH PETROLEUM (BP) STATION HAND-WRITTEN SIGN READING (English) "NO FUEL" TAPE WRAPPED AROUND FUEL PUMPS HAND-WRITTEN SIGN READING (English) "NO FUEL" VARIOUS OF EMPTY BP STATION
  • Embargoed: 13th October 2021 10:39
  • Keywords: drivers empty fuel crisis fuel shortage fuel stations motorists petrol shortage petrol station queues
  • Location: KENT AND LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City: KENT AND LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EWRWAIV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:British motorists queued for fuel again on Wednesday (September 29) while other gas stations were out of supply after days of shortages.
    Britain has been gripped by a rush of panic-buying for almost a week that has left pumps dry across major cities, after oil companies warned they did not have enough tanker drivers to move petrol and diesel from refineries to filling stations.
    Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng said 150 soldiers had been mobilised, and would be driving tankers within a few days.
    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has sought to quell concerns, saying supplies were returning to normal while also urging people not to panic buy.
    A shortage of around 100,000 drivers has sown chaos through supply chains and raised the spectre of empty shelves and price increases at Christmas.
    Industry groups said the worst of the shortages seemed to be in London, the southeast and other English cities.
    The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents independent retailers who account for about two-thirds of all the 8,380 UK filling stations, said on Tuesday (September 28) 37% its members' stations were out of fuel.
    Britain left the EU single market at the start of this year, preventing hauliers from recruiting drivers in the bloc. To tackle the shortage, the government has said it will issue temporary visas to 5,000 foreign drivers, a measure it had previously ruled out.
    Hauliers, petrol stations and retailers say there are no quick fixes as the shortfall of drivers is so acute, and transporting fuel demands training and licensing. European drivers may also be reluctant to take up the visa offer, which only lasts until Dec. 24.
    (Production: Gerry Mey, Lucy Marks)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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