The UK continued to see long queues outside petrol stations on Monday.
As the crisis continued, major retailers and oil companies have issued a response.
A lack of lorry drivers created the crisis. In response, many consumers resorted to panic buying, which exacerbated the problem.
The shortage led the business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to suspend competition law, allowing oil companies to forego the normal rules surrounding communication and help each other resupply the areas that need it most.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also considered bringing in the army to help the resupplying process.
Texaco, BP, Shell and Esso have introduced a £30 limit on purchases of fuel at their respective petrol stations in order to prevent further panic buying.
What have the fuel companies said?
Now working together to help resupply areas that are short across the UK, fuel companies have given updates on the situation.
With the Downstream Oil Protocol now enacted - the part of the Competition Act 1998 that allows oil companies to work together more closely in times of crisis - the likes of BP and Shell (among many others) are attempting to supply petrol stations with desperately needed fuel.
Shell, which has around 1,000 petrol stations across the UK, said: "We are working hard to ensure supplies for customers. Since Friday we have been seeing a higher-than-normal demand across our network which is resulting in some sites running low on some grades."
Similarly, BP said: “We are experiencing fuel supply issues at some of our retail sites in the UK. This is being caused by delays in our supply chain due to a shortage of qualified drivers – this issue is impacting industries across the UK.
"Most of the 1,200 sites we supply across the UK remain supplied and open.
"However, with the intense demand seen over the past two days, we estimate that around 30% of sites in this network do not currently have either of the main grades of fuel. We are working to resupply as rapidly as possible.
"Sites that have multiple grade-outs may have closed for fuel purchases – we do not have an estimate of this number."
Another joint statement
A statement has been issued on Monday by:
- BP
- Shell UK
- Esso Petroleum / ExxonMobil
- Wincanton
- Certas Energy UK
- Hoyer Petrolog UK
- Greenergy
- Fuels Transport & Logistics
- Downstream Fuel
- Suckling Transport
“There is plenty of fuel at UK refineries and terminals, and as an industry we are working closely with the government to help ensure fuel is available to be delivered to stations across the country.
“As many cars are now holding more fuel than usual, we expect that demand will return to its normal levels in the coming days, easing pressures on fuel station forecourts. We would encourage everyone to buy fuel as they usually would.
“We remain enormously grateful to all forecourt staff and HGV drivers for working tirelessly to maintain supplies during this time.”
What have retailers said?
Large retailers such as Tesco and Morrisons have also issued updates. Many of their stores have petrol stations.
Tesco, which has over 600 petrol stations gave a positive account of the current situation.
“We have good availability of fuel, and we’re working really hard to ensure regular deliveries to our petrol filling stations across the UK every day”.
Meanwhile, Morrisons said: "It is a rapidly moving situation and we are working hard with our suppliers to ensure we can continue to keep our pumps open and serve our customers."
