Is there a news blackout on fuel shortages?

[Mybumisfluffierthanyours]

Just doesn't seem to be reported anywhere. There is no diesel in my small town and supply problems for the last week. This is the same in the large town I work in. My colleague drove round all the fuel stations within a five mile radius and could not locate any.

I don't seem to see this reported anywhere or is it just my town?

None here either (large market town). We went to 4 different “large” supermarket chains, all out of diesel and unleaded. Finally had to cave and go to an independent who had it for an extortionate price just to put £10 worth in to get us home

Oh that's odd, I haven't noticed and I was driving my diesel car all over the country last week for work! Maybe a slightly local thing? My local facebook group is usually up in arms at the hint of a fuel shortage so I feel like I'd have noticed, haha

Only thing I saw in the news was fairly low down on the reporting about the XR idiots blockading the fuel terminals in Essex. Not sure if that’s enough of a knock on to affect everything

I noticed all major supermarkets petrol stations were out of diesel at the weekend

No issues at all where I am (other than the eye watering prices!)

Shortages in our area, including large supermarkets in the nearest town completely dry.

No shortage here. Is it due to the blockades?

The only issues in my area have been caused by people panic buying. I filled up at the weekend in a nearby town, no issues. In my home town people keep posting on Facebook and has caused the couple of stations we have to run dry, despite one of the owners stating that they had plenty of fuel.

I think there must be a news blackout to prevent the panic buying we have seen in the past.

I was very surprised to go to the petrol station yesterday (in North London) and find no fuel! Good job I had enough left to get me to the next one.

I reckon it could be shortages of drivers because of Covid. Rather than fuel shortages.

No issues here.

You don't want people panicking do you? We will have the same selfish behaviour of people filling up when they don't need to, taking all their multiple cars for petrol.

I know a friend in a different area is struggling to get fuel. I presume still related to the driver shortage.

DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT ANY NEW BLACKOUT.

If they have done a blackout, I praise them for finally fucking realising that is the sensible way to go. The only thing the media coverage has done previously in this situation is make every dickhead in the country turn completely selfish and CREATE more problems.

I'm far from convinced that a news blackout - where responsible journalists checking sources, seeking balanced opinions, and getting access to industry and government sources is replaced by jungle drums, Chinese whispers, and Facebook rumours - is that much better!

FWIW, here (Manchester) Tesco ran out of diesel last week, and the local independent whacked their diesel price up by 12p a litre overnight, after taking nearly a week to pass on the duty cut.

I’ve noticed this too (large town in the Midlands) but thought it was just my local area!

We have no diesel local to us either. Unleaded seems to be fine (which I'm selfishly thankful about, as that's what I need!) but even the more expensive places are out of diesel at the moment. They were out on Thursday, and the signs are still up, so who knows what's going on at the moment.

There were no issues around our way until someone started posting about it on the local Facebook page Now there are queues and shortages.

Yes, I noticed this in our south-central market town! One petrol station completely out and another with half the pumps closed.

If you google 'fuel shortages' there are numerous reports from the last day or two, mainly on local newspaper websites about it.

DP bought petrol yesterday in north Wales and commented that he was glad he took the petrol car (we have one of each and generally just use whichever is at the top of the drive) because all the diesel pumps were closed.

He took the diesel car today and managed to fill it at a local supermarket that seemed to have plenty (not panic buying, he has about 800 miles to drive this week and he's freelance so won't get paid if he doesn't go to work).

Fine round my way - North east market town

There have been some news articles , seems to mainly be the south east.
www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1590453/Fuel-shortage-petrol-England-Just-Stop-Oil-protest-block-supply-latest

We have had problems getting fuel locally, it does feel far calmer than the last few times without all the massive queues and idiots with multiple Jerry cans. So I am quite pleased that the media isn't stoking the fire this time.

DH sent me message yesterday saying there had been no diesel available on his journey from Yorkshire to Hampshire. But I got the diesel we needed without issue today in London/Kent borders.

I think its quite localised.

Quite a lot (but by no means all) diesel for the EU market comes from Russia. As I understand it, it's because North Sea oil - being light and sweet - lends itself better to refining into lighter fractions such as petrol, while diesel is easier to refine from heavier (and sourer) Russian oil than petrol.

I am making no claims to any knowledge about what is happening, but I have a theory which happens to fit what I do know, which includes the fact that gas flows into Europe from Russia have plateaued since the invasion at pretty much the highest level they've ever been.

My guess is that either dock workers are refusing to unload Russian oil and diesel, of which I read isolated reports early in the war, or that diesel is being stockpiled in the supply chain in anticipation of future supply constraints - be that from sanctions or Russia simply cutting us off. The gas situation certainly lends itself to the latter scenario.

A friend who works at the Essex site sent out a "warning" to friends last week, suggesting we should fill up because "something" was happening, but so far I haven't noticed any shortagesor queues here.

It's the XR idiots.

All the supermarket petrol stations, which are about 4-10p per litre depending on the fuel you use, had no fuel at the weekend around me. It coincided with the XR lot blocking the nearest oil refineries.