PETROL stations across the UK are struggling to keep up with demand – due to a surge in panic buying.
More than half of non-motorway garages are low on fuel – but what does that mean for supermarket forecourts?
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Countless pumps are still running on empty nation-wide, with the fuel crisis a “really big problem” in London and the South East, according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA).
And now, 200 soldiers are set to start delivering petrol on Monday in a bid to end the crisis after going through a crash HGV course.
Military tanker drivers have been undertaking training at haulier sites and will be deployed to deliver fuel to forecourts across the country to help relieve the situation, which the Government insists is stabilising.
In a bid to encourage calm and dissuade panic buyers, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said the fuel situation is “stabilising” in most parts of the country and the military is being deployed as a “precaution”.
According to the PRA, there are about 8,380 petrol stations in the UK – 1 per cent of these are believed to be closed at the moment.
Tesco
Tesco, which has suffered temporary outages in a small number of locations, said it has “good availability of fuel”.
A spokesperson said: “We’re working really hard to ensure regular deliveries to our petrol filling stations across the UK every day.”
The supermarket, which has 500 petrol stations and a further 200 that are operated by Esso, is not rationing fuel.
Morrisons
Morrisons has not confirmed how many of its sites are suffering from shortages.
The supermarket said it is a “rapidly moving situation”.
A spokesperson for Morrisons said: “We are working hard with our suppliers to ensure we can continue to keep our pumps open and serve our customers.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused during this time.”
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s said it was unable to provide details on which of its petrol stations had been affected.
That’s because sites are opening and closing in line with petrol deliveries although some petrol stations are closed.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said, “We’re experiencing high demand for fuel. We’re working closely with our supplier to maintain supply and all our sites continue to receive fuel.”
Asda
Asda has said that all of its fuel stations were operating as normal, but the situation could likely change as the weekend goes on.
The supermarket has 320 petrol stations across the UK.
The Sun has contacted Asda for further comment.
Asda was snapped up by new owners last year – British billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa, the tycoons behind, EG Group, a global convenience and forecourts retailer.
