Page 11 | How long before fuel rationing?

Bettercallsalli · 2026-03-31T14:12:37+00:00

A lot of talk of possible fuel rationing here if this conflict continues. Will Airlines be able to cope? It does seem inevitable now.

prh47bridge · 31/03/2026 17:03

KeyWorker · 31/03/2026 16:56

Surely having only 2 of 10 pumps working is either a technical issue with 8 pumps or a trick to create a sense of panic? Surely they either have fuel or they don’t. They have an amount and when it runs out it runs out regardless of they sell to 10 people at once or 2 with a further 8 people queuing causing a sense of panic.

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You are assuming that all pumps are fed from the same tank. This is not necessarily true.

Also, a forecourt may close some pumps simply so that they can stay open longer. The manager may take the view that it is better to close some pumps so that they can stay open all day rather than keep them all open and have to close part way through the day when the fuel runs out.

JenniferBooth · 31/03/2026 17:02

HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear · 31/03/2026 15:34

Even leaving aside the moral problem with panic buying, you could be breaking the law if you don't have a suitable place to store it.

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Our housing association didnt give a shit when a neighbour stored a petrol can under the stairs a few years ago

autumn1610 · 31/03/2026 17:01

I don’t understand and the panic buying unless you are then going to not drive your car after you fill up and leave it sat? Otherwise you will be using it. Just carry on as normal. Admittedly I have filled up sooner than I would normally wait till fuel light is on but I drive a lot with work so filled at around 1/4 full today instead but a lot of garages round me seem to be short on unleaded 🤷‍♀️ I would have filled up anyway this week but just not leaving it as low in case I struggle

ilovesooty · 31/03/2026 16:57

BIossomtoes · 31/03/2026 16:00

People like you are the reason supermarket shelves were empty at the start of Covid.

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People like her won't care.

KeyWorker · 31/03/2026 16:56

Ablondiebutagoody · 31/03/2026 15:22

Makes sense to fill up a few jerry cans if you have them and keep the car brimmed.

Driving on the M25 on Sunday, signs were saying no HGV fuel on the M3. Local Shell garage only has 2 pumps working rather than 10.

Edited

Surely having only 2 of 10 pumps working is either a technical issue with 8 pumps or a trick to create a sense of panic? Surely they either have fuel or they don’t. They have an amount and when it runs out it runs out regardless of they sell to 10 people at once or 2 with a further 8 people queuing causing a sense of panic.

scienceteachersarefun · 31/03/2026 16:56

MissingSockDetective · 31/03/2026 16:55

Our local supermarkets have all got fuel fine, no sign of silliness for the moment.

Same here. All open, all pumps functioning. No "shortages" in the supermarkets...

FernandoSor · 31/03/2026 16:56

prh47bridge · 31/03/2026 16:46

It is actually 7% of our diesel. For petrol it is only 1%. Most of our crude oil comes from the USA and Norway.

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It's 7% of crude imports (we import 60% of our crude, of which 12% comes from the Gulf). As you rightly point out, most of our imported crude comes from Notway and the US, with smaller amounts from Libya and Nigeria and only a very small amount from the Gulf states.

MissingSockDetective · 31/03/2026 16:55

Our local supermarkets have all got fuel fine, no sign of silliness for the moment.

randomchap · 31/03/2026 16:50

SerendipityJane · 31/03/2026 16:31

you can not panic buy a flammable chemical that needs very specific storage.

I can confidently predict that someone, somewhere will. Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/selfish-woman-fills-sainsburys-plastic-36946643

Is this you @Ablondiebutagoody ?

'Selfish' woman fills Sainsbury's plastic bags with petrol during UK fuel crisis

A woman has been branded 'selfish' after she was filmed filling up Sainsbury's bags with petrol and placing them in her car boot amid the UK's ongoing fuel crisis

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/selfish-woman-fills-sainsburys-plastic-36946643

SerendipityJane · 31/03/2026 16:49

Oh and read this but not before bed unless you like nightmares

None of this was unforeseen .... here's a cheery tome that kept family Jane amused around the candles in the 70s 😀

prh47bridge · 31/03/2026 16:46

FernandoSor · 31/03/2026 16:04

Unlikely what's in your tank passed the Straight of Hormuz at all considering only 7% of our oil comes from the Gulf.

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It is actually 7% of our diesel. For petrol it is only 1%. Most of our crude oil comes from the USA and Norway.

BloominNora · 31/03/2026 16:45

Movinginthesunlight · 31/03/2026 15:30

We all really need to make an informed decision when it comes to upcoming local elections i.e. who is pushing net zero and not supporting to drill in our North Sea!

Absolutely - vote for people who fully support transition to renewables so that we aren't reliant on fossil fuels and not subject to crazy prices and shortages every time some madman decides that the Middle East is the setting for his own real life chance to play Call of Duty!

Oh wait....that's not what you meant is it 🙄

SerendipityJane · 31/03/2026 16:44

Now I am old enough to remember the oil crisis in the 70's so why not start by doing what the did then and reduce speed limits, I suggest 60 on motorways and 50 everywhere else.

3 day week.

RedWineCupcakes · 31/03/2026 16:43

EVs are the future...

JenniferBooth · 31/03/2026 16:41

Ablondiebutagoody · 31/03/2026 15:22

Makes sense to fill up a few jerry cans if you have them and keep the car brimmed.

Driving on the M25 on Sunday, signs were saying no HGV fuel on the M3. Local Shell garage only has 2 pumps working rather than 10.

Edited

Hello Francis

youbizarrehorse · 31/03/2026 16:41

Loub1987 · 31/03/2026 16:27

I also here toilet roll is running out … 🤫

🤣🤣

That’s what happens to people’s digestive systems when they panic …

scienceteachersarefun · 31/03/2026 16:40

SerendipityJane · 31/03/2026 16:31

you can not panic buy a flammable chemical that needs very specific storage.

I can confidently predict that someone, somewhere will. Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.

Oh dear lord, someone will totally do that.

youbizarrehorse · 31/03/2026 16:39

ILoveDaffodills · 31/03/2026 15:44

It's not crazy to want to see your family over a long bank holiday weekend or have days out

🙄🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙄🙇🏻‍♀️

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I don’t think there was any suggestion that it was. Surely ‘crazy traffic’ is just a phrase to express that there will be a lot of traffic? There always is on bank holidays. It refers to the volume of traffic, not the people driving or their reasons for doing so.

Dragonflytamer · 31/03/2026 16:39

NotNowFGS · 31/03/2026 16:31

Sure fire way to lead to shortages sooner rather than later.

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Shortages are only a problem for those who don't plan ahead and top up when they can. Not everyone lives in the countryside where they can get to work on the morale high horse.

scienceteachersarefun · 31/03/2026 16:39

xanthomelana · 31/03/2026 16:32

Deliveries are coming in as normal where I work. It’s customers that are the problem, they learnt nothing from covid and continue to panic buy.

Exactly.

scienceteachersarefun · 31/03/2026 16:38

Ablondiebutagoody · 31/03/2026 15:22

Makes sense to fill up a few jerry cans if you have them and keep the car brimmed.

Driving on the M25 on Sunday, signs were saying no HGV fuel on the M3. Local Shell garage only has 2 pumps working rather than 10.

Edited

It makes no sense and is incredibly stupid.
Just stop with the panic mongering.

xanthomelana · 31/03/2026 16:32

Deliveries are coming in as normal where I work. It’s customers that are the problem, they learnt nothing from covid and continue to panic buy.

JohnofWessex · 31/03/2026 16:32

Right..........

The UK is 'self sufficient' in petrol from North Sea oil BUT we import diesel & heating oil.

The closure of the Straits of Hormuz means 20 (?)% of global oil production has been lost. Now we might not buy it just like Ukrainian wheat but the people that do will be looking to buy the supplies we normally use.

Now I am old enough to remember the oil crisis in the 70's so why not start by doing what the did then and reduce speed limits, I suggest 60 on motorways and 50 everywhere else.

I would also suggest a ban on the sale of new vehicles with a fuel consumption over a particular limit

Oh and read this but not before bed unless you like nightmares

https://profstevekeen.substack.com/p/things-fall-apart

Also on

https://x.com/ProfSteveKeen/status/2038227985338163675

Things Fall Apart

"The centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world..."

https://profstevekeen.substack.com/p/things-fall-apart

SerendipityJane · 31/03/2026 16:31

you can not panic buy a flammable chemical that needs very specific storage.

I can confidently predict that someone, somewhere will. Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.

NotNowFGS · 31/03/2026 16:31

Ablondiebutagoody · 31/03/2026 15:22

Makes sense to fill up a few jerry cans if you have them and keep the car brimmed.

Driving on the M25 on Sunday, signs were saying no HGV fuel on the M3. Local Shell garage only has 2 pumps working rather than 10.

Edited

Sure fire way to lead to shortages sooner rather than later.