Possible fuel shortages ?

Post by **adam2** » 24 Jan 2012, 11:33

Be prepared.
As well as the increased tension in the Gulf, and the bankruptcy of petroplus, we now have a strike by petrol tanker drivers !

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-16696473

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 24 Jan 2012, 18:18

As I was reading that, I noticed a news item called "Unnamed Page". So I clicked on it (some are Born Researchers...) and it said

IMF: Global economy 'in danger zone' over euro crisis

More economic Doom

Post by **adam2** » 24 Jan 2012, 18:55

Long queue this evening at tesco filling station, Old Kent road, London.
Helped no doubt by an alarmist headline in tonights Evening Standard, forcasting large increases in prices.

I doubt that the refinery closure will have much effect ON ITS OWN, but combined with a tanker drivers strike and the situation in the ME, and possibly bad weather, it could lead to shortages.

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » 24 Jan 2012, 19:14

adam2 wrote:............... it could lead to shortages.

Oops, now you've said that everyone will be filling up their vehicles, er, like wot I did. First one was a normal fill up, then I heard about Shellhaven, then Nigeria, so I thought I'd better fill the other one. Now I've heard about the tanker drivers, and the Gulf...................dooooommmmm

postie · Post by **postie** » 25 Jan 2012, 00:24

I'm just below a quarter of a tank on my car.... can I put a tenner's worth in tomorrow, or will I look like a desperate sad bastard who believes the headlines in the Daily Mail?????

madibe · Post by **madibe** » 25 Jan 2012, 00:48

No petrol = no get to work...ho-hum. Relax.

edited to add - totally silly comment.

extractorfan · Post by **extractorfan** » 25 Jan 2012, 09:52

I can walk to work yay!

erm....but then none of our workers will be able to get to work....

ergo, no business to go to work for...

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 25 Jan 2012, 16:54

I'm waiting to go outside Newbury to fill up to the max, over £100s worth, because fuel is about 4p more expensive in our town than the one next door. Why? Because they can and we don't complain enough. So, yes I will be filling up but not for the reasons quoted so far.

It would be good to fill up to avoid shortages, thereby causing one, because it may wake the sheeple up a bit to the future. A shortage might get the press a bit more honest about our predicament instead of talking up the economic cancer of our time, CONTINUOUS ECONOMIC GROWTH.

Post by **adam2** » 25 Jan 2012, 17:07

Agree, better a small or containable panic now than a big one latter.
As you say, it might wake up a few sheeple, the fuel blockades of some years were a wake up call to some at the time, but now largely forgotten

As I dont drive, I seldom buy petrol/diesel, but I dont mind starting the odd small panic over food supplies
"why are you buying so much chocolatte/pasta/sugar/ other food"
"because I think that there might be shortages"
"why on earth would that happen ?"
"just look at the news of economic troubles in Spain/Greece/Italy/other countries"
"But it could never happen here, they would never allow it"
"I think it might, and anyway food is bound to increase in price, so at least I am saving money"

I only do this in places where I am not known. If I am known in the shop or in the locality I prefer to keep a lower profile

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » 25 Jan 2012, 18:21

kenneal - lagger wrote:............. fuel is about 4p more expensive in our town than the one next door. Why? Because they can and we don't complain enough.

You could vote with your feet, and refuse to pay those extravagant prices. Why does everyone who complains give the impression they think they have a right to cheap fuel? Especially on a forum like this where they are professing to understand a shortage is coming, and that we need to do something about it. To me that does not include bleating about prices.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 26 Jan 2012, 04:13

woodburner wrote:
kenneal - lagger wrote:............. fuel is about 4p more expensive in our town than the one next door. Why? Because they can and we don't complain enough.
You could vote with your feet, and refuse to pay those extravagant prices. Why does everyone who complains give the impression they think they have a right to cheap fuel? Especially on a forum like this where they are professing to understand a shortage is coming, and that we need to do something about it. To me that does not include bleating about prices.

I did say

I'm waiting to go outside Newbury to fill up to the max, over £100s worth

It's not worth making a special journey of ten to fifteen miles each way to save a couple of quid but if I've got to go anyway I'll fill up. That's what they are relying on to keep the price high.

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 26 Jan 2012, 08:15

BBC News - 27/01/12

Administrators handling the future of the Coryton oil refinery in Essex have signed a deal to allow shipments of fuel to restart immediately.

Jobs at the refinery were under threat after Swiss owner Petroplus said it would file for bankruptcy on Tuesday.

Administrators PRML entered into agreements overnight to allow oil to be shipped from the site.

Administrator Steven Pearson said: "I am pleased that we are able to resume fuel supplies in the region."

Fears were raised diesel supplies could be disrupted after Petroplus announced it intended to file for bankruptcy "as soon as possible".

The refinery supplies 20% of south-east England's fuel.

Article continues ...

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » 26 Jan 2012, 08:33

kenneal - lagger wrote: It's not worth making a special journey of ten to fifteen miles each way to save a couple of quid but if I've got to go anyway I'll fill up. That's what they are relying on to keep the price high.

If you get about £100 worth in, then your tank is 12 to 15 gallons, which means you would save £2.30 to £2.50ish on a tank full. I don't think the price is "high" in Newbury, as I suspect the costs of running a site in a built up area are higher than in a more remote place (business rates and insurance for example). Fuel retailers don't make much on fuel as I understand it, and rely on their associated convenience shop to make it a viable business. How they make anything out of me I don't know, as I rarely buy anything other than fuel.

Post by **mikepepler** » 26 Jan 2012, 09:38

So fuel is being sold again, but how are they going to buy crude oil in? I heard a tanker was ready to unload 600,000 barrels, but are the financial mechanisms in place?

Post by **adam2** » 26 Jan 2012, 12:44

mikepepler wrote:So fuel is being sold again, but how are they going to buy crude oil in? I heard a tanker was ready to unload 600,000 barrels, but are the financial mechanisms in place?

Perhaps they are only going to refine stocks on site and then close down ?
Or perhaps they have already stopped refining and are simply selling existing stocks of refined product ?

I cant imagine that they will run at a loss for long, short term perhaps.