Fuel Shortages Persist in Southeast England, While Other Areas See Improvements – By Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) – Gas stations in London and the southeast are still facing fuel shortages, though conditions have improved in northern England and Scotland, according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA).

Starting Monday, the military will begin deploying tanker drivers to assist with fuel deliveries following a hectic week marked by shortages and panic buying, where some individuals resorted to storing petrol in water bottles.

The PRA chairman reported that a survey conducted on Saturday revealed only 16% of over 1,000 gas stations checked were without fuel, a decrease from the 27% recorded on Friday. However, local supply bottlenecks persist.

Brian Madderson, the PRA Chairman, noted, “The situation is improving in the north and Scotland, but London and the southeast remain critical areas as we move into next week.”

The same survey indicated that 68% of the stations now have both petrol and diesel available for purchase.

The acute shortage of truck drivers has placed immense pressure on supply chains. In response, the government announced on Friday that 200 military personnel trained for tanker operations would begin deliveries on Monday.

Members of the military were seen at Buncefield Oil Depot in Hemel Hempstead, north of London, over the weekend.

Earlier in the day, Health Minister Sajid Javid stated that the supply situation is no longer worsening. He commented, “It seems the situation is stabilizing, although it’s not completely resolved yet, which is why the army has been brought in to assist.”