Diesel Shortage

[Potemkin Villager]

I was quite shocked to hear a celebrity "economist" claim, on RTE radio this morning,
that there was only 2 weeks supply of Diesel in Ireland and the UK. He claimed that there were
no deliveries of crude oil to UK refineries expected in the near future!

However, according to the equally reliable and accurate Daily Telegraph, it is all down to evil protestors.

"Demonstrators from Extinction Rebellion (XR) and Just Stop Oil have been blockading roads used to access oil refineries near London and Birmingham since Friday, preventing tanker trucks from leaving or entering.

It has led to more than 200 arrests and reports from drivers of fuel shortages in locations including Folkestone, Dover and Gillingham, in Kent.

As many as 10 oil refineries were initially targeted on Friday but by Monday only the Esso West London Oil Terminal near Heathrow Airport was still being blocked, an Esso spokesman said."

I didn't realise the UK had so many refineries, including one near Heathrow.

[adam2]

About 2 weeks stock MIGHT be accurate, excessive stocks represent money tied up to no useful purpose, at least from the point of view of an economist.
I would be surprised however if new supplies of either diesel fuel or of crude oil have ceased.

HMG have allegedly learnt learnt lessons from the last major fuel blockades and consequent shortages, and if those blockading fuel facilities cause SERIOUS shortages of diesel or other fuels, then I expect that the protesters will be dealt with.

AFAIK, Some of the facilities mentioned are storage or distribution centres, not refineries.

[PS_RalphW]

This may be incidental, but I have seen longer than usual queues at fuel stations twice in the last 3 days. This might be more to do with looking for bargain prices than actual shortages, if social media posts start spreading memes about cheaper fuel.

I recently refilled my heating oil tank for 90p /litre ex vat which was painful but should see us into the autumn.

[BritDownUnder]

HMG learnt a few lessons but not on how to look after your own diesel after some 250,000 pounds worth got nicked from a naval base recently.
The Daily Mail gleefully reported.

Compare with the oil refineries when I was recently in Singapore being located on a secure island with checkpoints and armed guards preventing public access. There was a special sign on fences and gates all over Singapore with had a picture of someone pointing a gun at another person who had their hands up just to make the point that access was not allowed. Not that I disagree with all XR has to say.

[adam2]

Protests are ongoing.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-c ... e-61026587

Reports are mixed to whether or not supplies of diesel or other fuels are much affected.

[PS_RalphW]

There seem to be widespread shortages in the Cambridge area, with multiple supermarket stations out of all fuel. Long queues at stations still open.

[PS_RalphW]

There are widespread fuel shortages across at least 4 counties in the east and Midlands, reported in local newspapers. Why is this not being reported at a national level.? How widespread are these shortages?

[adam2]

Presumably the invasion of Ukraine is considered to be more interesting, and is crowding out other news.

Some diesel fuel shortages here in the West country. Petrol shortages may follow, as diesel is almost always in short supply before petrol.

[johnny]

Presumably the invasion of Ukraine is considered to be more interesting, and is crowding out other news.

Some diesel fuel shortages here in the West country. Petrol shortages may follow, as diesel is almost always in short supply before petrol.

So it takes maybe 6 months to go from drilling a LTO well to turning it into a refinery input, has there been any talk about applying a little drill-baby-drill to the UK to alleviate shortages?

[UndercoverElephant]

has there been any talk about applying a little drill-baby-drill to the UK to alleviate shortages?

No. There's not many places to try drilling that haven't already been tried. North Sea is a busted flush.

[Mark]

There are widespread fuel shortages across at least 4 counties in the east and Midlands, reported in local newspapers. Why is this not being reported at a national level.? How widespread are these shortages?

Fuel shortage grips Britain: One in three petrol stations in the South are CLOSED after eco mob cause ten days of chaos at oil terminals - as 80 activists target three more sites today:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... l#comments

Comprehensive coverage in the DM - got to love their comments section....

[johnny]

has there been any talk about applying a little drill-baby-drill to the UK to alleviate shortages?

No. There's not many places to try drilling that haven't already been tried. North Sea is a busted flush.

The USGS seems to think there might be a few hundred million barrels available. Better than nothing?

[Mark]

The USGS seems to think there might be a few hundred million barrels available. Better than nothing?

It's mostly located in the North, rather than the Midlands, but when did the Yanks know anything about UK Geography ?
https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2018/3028/fs20183028.pdf

Anyway, it's shale oil and shale gas, which are currently off the table in this country...

[BritDownUnder]

So far no diesel shortages reported in Australia.

Coal and LNG exports are reported to have very high prices.

[UndercoverElephant]

The USGS seems to think there might be a few hundred million barrels available. Better than nothing?

It's mostly located in the North, rather than the Midlands, but when did the Yanks know anything about UK Geography ?
https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2018/3028/fs20183028.pdf

Anyway, it's shale oil and shale gas, which are currently off the table in this country...

Fracking is very unlikely to come back in the UK, IMO.