Britain's motorists faced rationing at petrol stations yesterday, as major suppliers tried to stop them hoarding fuel. Concern over supplies as the Grangemouth refinery in Scotland closed down led to fuel queues on forecourts across Scotland, the north of England and parts of Wales.
Panic over future supplies grew as news spread that BP's Forties pipeline in the North Sea would be fully closed by today and that it could be two weeks before the supply line is fully functioning again.
Ministers and petrol suppliers insisted it was "business as usual", with no danger of shortages
as long as nobody panicked.
However, oil and gas industry leaders have urged the Government to intervene in the Grangemouth dispute. Malcolm Webb, chief executive of Oil & Gas UK, said: "It is now time for the Government at the highest level to step in and take all the necessary actions to ensure that the country is not held to ransom in this manner." He said 80 companies and their operations were now being affected. and estimated that the closure of the Forties pipeline will cost the UK economy £50m in lost production.
The Secretary of State for Business, John Hutton, said: "The advice that I have received is that there is plenty of fuel in Scotland for a significant period."
Despite these reassurances, several garages reported that they had already sold out of fuel or were running low on supplies.
More:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/petrol-rationed-to-stop-hoarding-as-supplies-dwindle-on-the-forecourts-816211.html------------
It'll be interesting to see how Americans handle shortages in the coming years....
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