Alarm as gas stations begin to ration fuel Business

Motorists were warned Thursday evening of fuel shortages at gas stations as BP announced the shutdown of pumps and the rationing of gasoline and diesel due to lack of truck drivers.

BP said it is cutting deliveries to 90 percent of its gas stations in an effort to ration the fuel it has in reserve. ExxonMobil, the oil company behind Esso, said the forecourts it operates in some Tesco supermarkets have also been affected.

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) has warned that drivers should keep a quarter of a tank of fuel in their cars in case their regular station runs out.

The announcements were followed by calls from MPs and industry executives for the Home Office to allow overseas heavy truck drivers to get expedited visas to alleviate the shortage.

Downing Street stressed that the disruption was linked to driver shortages rather than a lack of fuel supply.

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said: “There is no shortage of fuel in the UK and people should continue to buy fuel normally. We obviously recognize the challenges the industry faces and take action to support them. “

It comes amid warnings that Britain is facing a ‘winter of discontent’. Supermarkets have also warned of food shortages heading into Christmas as they also grapple with the shortage of truck drivers.

There are warnings that bills could rise for more than a million families as energy companies collapse due to rising wholesale gas prices. The end of the universal credit hike and rising inflation are also expected to cause problems for families later this year.

Gordon Balmer, executive director of the PRA, suggested drivers keep a quarter of a tank of fuel in their cars, and a former Tory minister warned urgent action was needed to avoid long lines outside stations -service.

The government is working closely with Ofgem, the industry regulator, as officials prepare for other suppliers to go bankrupt. Six companies went bankrupt this month, affecting an estimated 1.5 million customers.

Meanwhile, the Bank of England has warned that price inflation will remain high until at least the middle of next year. Officials said inflation would exceed 4 percent, double the Bank’s target rate, raising expectations that interest rate hikes would be needed to bring the economy under control.