Shortages UK

[Ootohere]

https://www.reuters.com/business/global-markets-wrapup-3-pix-2021-09-27/

 

 

Oil prices going to a 3 year high, recovery around the globe and the oil producing countries will be at it again limiting what they take out of the ground.

 

All those tankers that were at sea will now have that oil already sold and being unloaded.  

 

The words 'Unexpected demand' seem like BS.    The demand was fully expected and counted on. 

Edited 27 September, 2021 by e-Roottoot

[@Lee]

I do like annual traditions however I remember what happened last time 'Boris battled to save Christmas'...
 

[@Lee]

But what do 'industry experts' know, eh 🤷‍♂️
 

Quote

Shortages of lorry drivers have not led to empty supermarket shelves or significant disruption in Europe because of “labour flexibilities” in the European Union’s single market, according to industry experts.

They say the single market allows the European logistics industry to protect itself against the shortages that are causing big supply problems in Britain.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eu-single-market-avoids-supply-problems-petrol-lorry-drivers-ld5526lv6

Is it because of the Single Market system?

Check out the big brain on Brad...

 

[Ootohere]

Aa but!  Who knew there was a Reserve Tanker Fleet and Reserve Tanker Drivers ready to roll until Kwasi Kwartenga MP business minister told them.

 

There just for this type of non emergency.   

Perfect for sitting Military personnel next to these 'Highly Trained & Qualified professionals'  that were sitting waiting for the call

,so that they can get some on the job training before being let loose at the end of the week. 

 

These Reserve Tankers are all numbered starting at 001 to 0082.   Just 007 & 0013 are kept unused for some reason. 

 

http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58729653

 

 

Edited 29 September, 2021 by e-Roottoot

[@Lee]

1 minute ago, e-Roottoot said:

Aa but!  Who knew there was a Reserve Tanker Fleet and Reserve Tanker Drivers ready to roll until Kwasi Kwartenga MP business minister told them.

 

There just for this type of non emergency.   

Perfect for sitting Military personnel next to these 'Highly Trained & Qualified professionals'  that were sitting waiting for the call

,so that they can get some on the job training before being let loose at the end of the week. 

 

These Reserve Tankers are all numbered starting at 001 to 0045.   Just 007 & 0013 are kept unused for some reason. 

 

The reserve tanker fleet that was only costed in 2017 because of, you know, that thing?
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/652310/Downstream_oil_fuel_supply_resilience_impact_assessment.pdf
 

[KenONeill]

22 minutes ago, e-Roottoot said:

These Reserve Tankers are all numbered starting at 001 to 0082.   Just 007 & 0013 are kept unused for some reason. 

They use 006 and 008!? (006 was murdered in Octopussy; 008 {Alex Trevelyan} was a traitor in Goldeneye).

[@Lee]

Bring in EU drivers ✔️
Bring in army drivers ✔️
Activate the reserve tanker fleet ✔️
Get convicts to drive tankers ✔️
🤦‍♂️
 

Quote

Low-level offenders who have been given community sentences could be used to address the country’s lack of HGV drivers amid continuing concerns about fuel shortages, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has suggested.

https://www.cityam.com/offenders-can-deliver-petrol-while-fuel-crisis-rages-on-says-dominic-raab/

Also in the Times
 

Quote

Companies should employ ex-prisoners to fill vacancies instead of demanding more visas for foreign workers, Dominic Raab has said.

The deputy prime minister and justice secretary also said he was “open-minded” about allowing asylum seekers to work as part of efforts to solve huge labour market shortages in the UK. He said that lifting the ban on asylum seekers getting a job would also help them to learn the language and boost their chances of integrating into society if and when they were granted asylum.

Raab said that employing former prisoners and offenders serving community sentences would also help to cut reoffending because it would “give people skin in the game, give them something to lose” and “give them some hope”.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dominic-raab-hire-asylum-seekers-prisoners-plug-worker-gap-8nt3k9mbk?shareToken=343f2cbcb99c3d2962b1389ce971ca6d

Also from today's Times, "The government is preparing to launch a Brexit helpline for British businesses and has awarded the contract for providing the service to an Indian company".
 
Why can't these convicts man call centres? Easy to keep an eye on them if they're all in one place or perhaps even WFH if they're tagged. Less chance of them fencing tankers full of diesel or petrol. I thought they wanted British jobs for British workers. People moaned about people coming to the UK stealing British jobs and now the Government are sending  jobs to India. I guess someone somewhere will be making a tidy sum for a contract. 
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/brexit-hotline-goes-to-indian-company-hinduja-global-solutions-0303lvzw7

Edited 30 September, 2021 by @Lee

[Ootohere]

A member had posted in the Kodiaq section about someone puncturing their fuel tank to steal the fuel.    Insurers or the general public will be covering these claims more commonly or the owner might not claim.  Hopefully those that do suffer from this crime do make a report to the police.   Tough on crime and tough on those comiting crimes.   Let them have some time away from their punishment to drive a tanker.  Obviously they have no contacts with criminals as they just made a wrong decision sometime in life.      Low level crime. Down robbing Catalytic converters, fuel and wheels. 

Edited 30 September, 2021 by e-Roottoot

[skomaz]

And it looks like the 'fuel shortage' is all over near us...   the local petrol stations had tankers present this morning, cars filling up and no queues!...

[@Lee]

3 minutes ago, skomaz said:

And it looks like the 'fuel shortage' is all over near us...   the local petrol stations had tankers present this morning, cars filling up and no queues!...

Makes you wonder why Kwarteng's activated his reserve tanker fleet, doesn't it. Maybe he should rename it to the reverse tanker fleet. Not sure if these new drivers can reverse mind with their shiny new tests being done by third parties.

[Ootohere]

I am still reading that Military drivers will be out in Military Tankers.

 

That is not correct is it, they are to be in civilian tankers are they not for transporting fuel to Filling Stations.

 Only Military Tankers would be used for Military use.

 

Business and Commerce and Private Fuel depots and places where fuel is bunkered seem to be requiring more fuel than they have been getting.

 

There must be issues taking fuel to Harbours / Ports, Airports etc. 

Many do get fuel delivered by road and not by pipelines.

[lol-lol]

29 minutes ago, skomaz said:

And it looks like the 'fuel shortage' is all over near us...   the local petrol stations had tankers present this morning, cars filling up and no queues!...

 

London still has huge problems, most garages out of fuel it is reported...

 

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/fuel-crisis-drivers-4am-queues-clashes-pumps-uk-b957871.html

 

Fuel crisis easing? Not yet, say drivers, with 4am queues and more clashes at pumps

Desperate London drivers today poured scorn on Boris Johnson’s claims that the fuel crisis is “improving” as they queued in their cars from 4am.  Long lines built up outside filling stations from the early hours amid another day of chaos across the capital and the South-East. Drivers in Little Venice began queuing for a closed Esso petrol station since 4am, even though the forecourt was not opening until 8.30am because of security concerns.

 

[@Lee]

@lol-lolI think it's patchy. Mate in Redditch struggling to get diesel last night. He found some in Alcester.
 

Edited 30 September, 2021 by @Lee

[skomaz]

16 minutes ago, @Lee said:

@lol-lolI think it's patchy. Mate in Redditch struggling to get diesel last night. He found some in Alcester.
 

 

Yes - definitely patchy and area-specific.  My sister a few miles down the road in Chesterfield had to try 5 stations yesterday to  get diesel but she was on 'reserve' with the warning light on so persevered.  Looking at some of the reports a lot of the queuing issue seems to be people 'topping up' with a few quid's worth - something they wouldn't normally do but are doing at the moment because of the media hype.  Presumably things will continue to improve over the next few days as they can only get so much in a tank and, once they've al filled up, things will ease pretty quickly.

[Yearofthegoat]

Yeah, no fuel at any garage in Guildford last night, but some limited supply this morning. I could maybe make it to the weekend but not beyond that, so I'll camp out bright and early tomorrow morning.

[gadgetman]

Looks like it'll be biscuits next 

https://www.grocerygazette.co.uk/2021/09/30/500-jobs-in-the-balance-as-elkes-biscuits-crumbles/

[skomaz]

oooh - wonder if there'll be panic buying of custard creams - that would be a headline to remember...   and something for the media to get their teeth into (ta dum tish...)

[@Lee]

<Windsor Davies smile>
https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1443487482209882112

 

[Ootohere]

?

Is Nigel Farage a Reserve Tanker driver then?      

 

I always mix up my T's ans W's.  

[@Lee]

1 hour ago, gadgetman said:

Looks like it'll be biscuits next 

https://www.grocerygazette.co.uk/2021/09/30/500-jobs-in-the-balance-as-elkes-biscuits-crumbles/

Anheuser Busch InBev were on Newsnight or ITV news last night, I forget which, saying they were short of CO2 for Bud, Bud Light and Stella. Only a few days worth left IIRC.

[BJM]

2 hours ago, @Lee said:

Anheuser Busch InBev were on Newsnight or ITV news last night, I forget which, saying they were short of CO2 for Bud, Bud Light and Stella. Only a few days worth left IIRC.

 

See.

Every cloud has a silver lining. No overprice, fizzy, synthetic tasting lager for a while.

[@Lee]

I thought 'Britain Trump' as 'The Donald' affectionately called him said things were getting better two days ago?
This isn't 'the media' saying it - it's the retailers association.
 

Quote

There has been no improvement in petrol supplies at independent petrol stations since Wednesday, according to industry body the Petrol Retailers Association.

The PRA, which represents independent fuel retailers, said that more than a quarter (27%) of its members' were still out of fuel on Thursday.

That was better than the 37% which were out of fuel on Tuesday, but demand remained higher than usual, it said.

However the AA said it saw signs that the pressure was starting to ease.

The PRA, which surveyed 1,200 of its members, represents nearly 5,500 of the UK's 8,300 petrol stations.

"Trying to calm this down appears to be a monumental task at the moment," said PRA chairman Brian Madderson.

 

"The surge in demand appears to be continuing," he said. "There's been no easing off of the pressure from drivers wanting to refuel whenever they can, wherever they can."

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58747281

Edited 30 September, 2021 by @Lee

[Breezy_Pete]

Supplies round here (Oxfordshire) seem to be much better today. The missus filled up without queuing this morning at a small BP, and someone else at work said the queue at Tesco was barely more than average.

[KenONeill]

5 hours ago, @Lee said:

they were short of CO2 for Bud, Bud Light

Short of cat water surely?

[lol-lol]

13 hours ago, Wino said:

Supplies round here (Oxfordshire) seem to be much better today. The missus filled up without queuing this morning at a small BP, and someone else at work said the queue at Tesco was barely more than average.

 

I have never seen so many EV charge points than I have in Oxford and the traffic control etc promote EVs.

 

It is well known that garages make as much profit on non fuel items as they do the fuel so the hours and days of closure will have a huge effect on viability of some fuel stations.

 

Fuel stations should consider change to accommodate EVs, the EV driver will probably spend more time in the shop than an ICE driver, they may want a drink and a snack and spend more than the ICE driver as they have to spend 15,20 or even 30 minutes at the refuelling station. 

 

I have the sound of drilling in my ears as my home POD chargers is being fitted and Aldi and Tesco are going great guns at fitting POD chargers and if garages do not change then most of them will not exist in a decade or decade and a half.