AIBU to think my friend is overdoing emergency stockpiling?

Oh dear. Mine has just arrived today. Don't know if it is a 'suitcase' one.
It's off amazon and just has one ring with little gas tins that plug into it.
Have a horrible feeling it is the type you are referring to.

I will put it in the detached garage for storage. If it blows up it hopefully only takes out the garage and maybe my old car as well which sits outside garage. Better than the house.

I may not use it. However good to have in case I change my mind. I never thought of buying a fire blanket. I suppose if we are all going to be using these stoves and the water is turned off there is a bigger chance of fires happening. I guess people using candles as well might also increase the risk. I'm not planning on using candles but a fire blanket might be an idea. Good tip.

I agree. There's a risk assessment to be done and some thought to be given to how to make stove use as safe as possible.

I have a stove (not a suitcase one as they infrequently explode, but one where the gas connects through a hose), canisters, fire blanket, and nice big airy kitchen where is can be used on tile floor where the risk is minimal.

I have bought my dc's a new power bank each ready to give as part of Christmas presents.

I had to have a stern word with myself over the camping stove idea. I mean I was a scientist in my previous life and had used bunsen burners and a gas chromatography machine! I know people can get more cautious/nervous as they age (I certainly have done) but that's ridiculous, so I have bitten the bullet! Stove's due to arrive today, then will be shopping for propane gas canisters (and have checked how best to store them).

No need for the racism.

This.

Up to her really. If she can afford to stockpile and has the room what business is it of anyone else?

Some people have enough clothing for years and years and yet still buy more clothes and shoes. Why is food and camping items etc a problem then.

That's a good point. So I can only use it outside in the garden. That's going to make any kind of cooking on it interesting. Sure the local dogs/cats/wildlife will be most interested to know what is bubbling on all the outside stoves.

Thanks for the tip though. Not sure I realised this. So if it's raining it's a no go to use it. Better than blowing the house up or being overcome with fumes I suppose.

My plan of attack is use my battery kettle in first instance for hot water and eat cold food ie sardines on oatcakes which I eat anyway.

Phase 2 is use my own gas hob with manual lighters (if I can)

Phase 3 is the camping stove in the garden

Phase 4 is going to bed and pulling the covers over my head.

Remember a camping stove can't be used indoors, although you can boil water for hot water bottles outside (perhaps what you meant).

He isn't though. The effect of banning diesel exports will be global shortages including the US.

He's a complete and utter fuckwit.

I have also bought hot water bottles and have bought extra gas for the BBQ

I have to admit having thought I had finished with my stockpiling I relented and bought a camping stove with spare gas. Makes me nervous tinkering about with gas but the idea of powercuts and no heating had me overcome this.

I've also bought myself a hot water bottle. Another flashback to the 70's cold and dark.

I wonder are we all just going to be in a state of slight confusion and worry and then bang it all kicks off.........

Slightly unnerving really when you think about it.

Although it will be bad for us if Trump bans diesel exports, I sort of admire him for looking after his own people as well.

https://x.com/SkyNews/status/2103200509708714197

Here is sky asking the question "should we be shitting ourselves yet?"

Meanwhile on the BBC.....

France to deploy military resources to Saudi Arabia to protect the key Yanbu energy site on the Red Sea.

Macron says France will send soldiers, radars and air-defence systems to protect the site, which he says provides a route for transporting several million barrels of oil.

He stressed that French forces will not participate in combat or engage in the conflict, but will be there to protect the facility

So they are going to stand there and be as useful as a chocolate fireguard?

Sounds like a great plan.

https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2026/09/23/6ab411e9fdddff35028b4598.html
The CIA warns of a Russian drone attack against Spain, France or Italy
European foreign ministries are working with a detailed report following the visit of the Agency director to Moscow / Russia would launch the fearsome Gerbera missiles, with a range of 600 km, from ships, according to information obtained by the Lithuanian government.

It is believed that this triggered CIA Director Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow last month to warn Russia against this attack.

Source: El Mundo (Spanish newspaper - this is reputable)

We really are exposed to this. Apparently 1 in 5 barrels of diesel in the UK comes from the US.

Javier Blas AT JavierBlas
The whole U.S. energy industry plus two key businesses associations (the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers) have sent a joint letter to President Trump urging him against limits of diesels exports.

Unprecedented for a Republican White House.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c32l8y8kygdvo

UK military jamming other nations' satellites to defend itself.

The RAF has been using a ground-based system for the past year, which a defence source said had already been used "to deter our adversaries".

It is understood the system could be used to prevent a hostile nation's satellites from tracking the movement of the UK's nuclear armed submarines or other sensitive military operations, such as those involving special forces.

It comes as the head of the RAF said the UK faced "unprecedented threats" from adversaries in space, coinciding with the creation of a new RAF unit set up to defend Britain's satellites.

I heard that mackerel has been 'over fished' (that was on the waitrose site) and there are tins with Jack mackerel (which isn't actual mackerel at all and isn't as good nutritionally as true mackerel). Sardines are in short supply because of the rising ocean temperatures around Morocco where many are fished. So they swim out further to cooler water and this costs fishermen more to go get them, so there are less. But yes, I just had an Amazon seller cancel my tinned sardine order.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/23/white-house-ban-diesel-01089294
‘Dammit, something has to happen’: White House preparing plan for 90-day diesel exports ban

But as high energy prices continue to bedevil Republican candidates going into tough midterm elections in less than seven weeks, Trump is inclined to announce a ban by the end of the week and consider any blowback “a December problem,” said one oil industry executive who has discussed the ban with senior White House officials.

“What has overpowered cooler heads [in the White House] is the absolutely, sky-is-falling, we-have-to-do-something concern about prices at the pump” faction, said this person, who was granted anonymity to discuss conversations with White House officials. “That camp has been swept aside by the political camp, which says, ‘dammit, something has to happen.’”

White House and Energy Department spokespeople did not immediately address specific questions.

“This is another fake news news story from Politico,” a White House official said
.
AND

Wright made a round of calls to energy CEOs on Tuesday night telling them a 90-day ban was likely to happen in the coming days, according to a Trump energy adviser, speaking on background to avoid repercussions. A number of CEOs immediately began calling the White House to push back on the ban, the adviser said, cautioning that “there’s a lot of swirl so it might change.”

“It’s a terrible idea,” the adviser said.

Another industry official said it could come down to the “last person in the room” with Trump when he makes the decision.

An external adviser to the administration said they had received “a bunch of frantic outreach” in recent days searching for alternatives to a ban. They worried the administration would repeatedly extend a ban and establish precedent for government intervention in energy markets — a playbook Democrats could use as well.

“It’s clear that there is a lot of internal opposition to it,” the person said.

Just been down to fill up car. Lots of unleaded pumps empty with just the expensive unleaded left. Could just be coincidence.

Noticed supermarkets are out of stock of tinned sardines/mackeral. Not all of them but the own brand ones which are cheaper are sold out. I like the ones in spicy tomato sauce and they were gone.

Ryanair announcing their airfares will be increasing dramatically. Even those who are sceptical will be able to see it impacting on every area.

I've had a large delivery of catfood so at least the cats will be fed if we have disruption.

Another explainer:

If Trump bans US diesel/gasoline exports:

1. Gulf coast diesel prices go down, and inventories start filling as millions of barrels look for a domestic home. But California which imports a lot of its gasoline, isnt saved by this.

2. International diesel / gasoline goes thru the roof. Mexico gets absolutely shattered as it gets over 1mbpd of Gulf coast products. They know need to look elsewhere, increasing atlantic tanker demand.

3. US storage fills as Americans cant consume the excess supply.

4. US Refiners cut their runs. That reduces WTI demand, resulting in a lower WTI and a bigger discount to Brent.

5. Foreign refiners print money. India for sure ramps up, Asian refiners follow. China likely ramps runs big time as cracks go through the roof. This increases demand for crude oil and Brent is bid up.

6. Then the US benefit eats itself: lower refinery runs + higher imported crude (to match refinery grades) and we’re back where we started.

So the strange end result could be:

Texas gets cheap fuel.
California doesn’t.
Mexico gets squeezed.
Global diesel goes vertical.
US refiners cut runs.
WTI weakens vs Brent.
Foreign refiners capture the margin.
And then Texas fuel prices go back up.

The US ends up exporting more raw crude while giving up the enormous margin from turning it into the products the world desperately needs.

It would effectively be a free subsidy of foreign refiners at the expense of US refiners.

It would be another short term solution which would leave the US worse off than where it started.

But it's probably be popular in the US in the short term where it matters ahead of the MidTerms.

He will do it won't he?

A graph which highlights levels of fuckedness if the US do have a diesel exports ban. (The Netherlands is the imported for most of the EU).

If they do, rationing of diesel will start very rapidly.

Diesel rationing will only really help states in the gulf area and only for a short time according to oil experts. It will fuck the rest of the world and probably crash the global economy.

But hey Trump is seriously considering it.

France is now considering lowering fuel-quality standards to increase diesel and jet-fuel production.

This causes higher emissions, reduced compatibility with certain engines and additional strain on emission-control systems.