New fuel protests threatened: Sept 14th

[tim]

Petrol Strike 2?
The Scotsman has this cheery piece -
me?, I'm off to the supermarket in the mornin'

Tim


http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=1905622005

Threat looms of fresh fuel blockade

ALASTAIR DALTON
TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT

FUEL protesters have threatened to blockade every refinery in Britain
next week unless the government cuts fuel taxes.
In a move raising the spectre of the demonstrations that caused
widespread petrol shortages five years ago, ministers have been given
a deadline of 6am next Wednesday for the action to start.
The threat has been prompted by soaring prices, which have seen
unleaded fuel rising by an average of 7p a litre in two months, to
nearly 95p in the UK. However, an increasing number of petrol
stations are charging more than ?1 a litre.
Andrew Spence, a farmer and haulier, and spokesman for the Fuel Lobby
campaign group, which organised the 2000 protests, issued the threat
as prices edged even higher because of disruption caused by Hurricane
Katrina.
He said: "We want to see an immediate reduction in taxation to bring
fuel prices down or, as of 6am next Wednesday, there won't be a
refinery in the country left open. Every refinery will be blockaded."
Hauliers in Scotland, who will today urge MSPs to hold an inquiry
into the future of their industry, expressed mixed feelings about the
threat.
While some said ill-feeling could quickly escalate into protests,
others predicted a more muted reaction, pointing out the latest
increases could not be pinned on the government. Some described Mr
Spence as "a bit of a firebrand".
Attempts to make fuel a general election issue failed, with only a
handful of protests staged in May.
Bryan Harper, a haulier based in Insch, Aberdeenshire,
said: "Something needs to happen. The supply network could collapse
like a pack of cards, there is so much ill-feeling. However, it is
difficult to protest when prices on the world market are causing the
problem."
Jim Macauley, the managing director of Cadzow Heavy Haulage in
Blantyre, Lanarkshire, said he would not be getting involved, but
added: "There are many agitated people. A lot of hotheads out there."
Robbie Burns, a haulier in Broxburn, West Lothian, said: "The chance
of the government cutting taxes is slim to none. World oil prices
were low for many years and we were paying a lot because the
government was taxing us, but world prices are now high."
Phil Flanders, the Scotland and Northern Ireland director of the Road
Haulage Association, said he was not aware of any planned protests
north of the Border. He said nearly 200 hauliers had protested
lawfully outside the Grangemouth refinery before the election, but
any blockades would be illegal.
John Roberts, an energy security specialist, said the Fuel Lobby
action could produce very serious results, but he agreed there was a
major difference between now and 2000.
He said: "Then they had tremendous popular support. This time it is
clearer that the high prices are essentially out of the government's
control."
Greenpeace said the protesters should accept they must rely less on
fossil fuels.
Mark Strutt, a campaigner for the environmental group, welcomed the
price rises as helping to reduce the overall consumption of fuel.
The AA Motoring Trust acknowledged that despite soaring fuel prices,
the overall cost of motoring was still less than ten years ago thanks
to lower car prices and a fall in other running costs in real terms,
such as MoT tests.
The fuel price increases are also hitting train operators.
The number of commuters signing up to share cars has doubled in the
past three months because of rising fuel costs. Liftshare.com, the
UK's largest car-sharing scheme, said it now had more than 12,000
people registered.
The government claimed cutting fuel taxes was not the answer. A
spokesman for the Treasury said: "We believe the biggest priority in
terms of reducing fuel costs must be working with the American
government to restore production levels affected by the Hurricane
Katrina disaster, as well as maintaining pressure on OPEC to set
their oil production at levels consistent with more stable and
sustainable prices.
"More than half the fuel used in the UK bears little or no fuel duty
at all, including the red diesel used by farmers like Mr Spence, and
the fuel used in industrial production, heating of homes and
workplaces, and rail and bus transport, so seeking to address the
problem of high oil prices through road fuel duty alone would do
nothing for the majority.
"It is worth noting that road fuel duty rates on the main types of
petrol and diesel are lower now than they were six years ago and,
since then, the main rates of road fuel duty have fallen nearly 12
per cent in real terms, saving the average motorist about 6p per
litre every time they fill up."
He added that the Treasury - in light of the volatility in the oil
market - took the decision last year not to go ahead with the annual
inflation increase in fuel duties, and this year had also delayed the
annual increase until it could review the position in the pre-Budget
report.





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[johnhemming]

There is actually no underlying conflict between the motivations of the "fuel lobby" and those of "peak oilers". All wish that people can afford sufficient fuel to live a reasonable lifestyle.

The reality is that there is a constraint on the availability of fuel. Hence there is a need for people to adjust lifestyles.

If what we do is merely allow prices to rise then this will simply result into a transfer of capital into the Middle East and also as a consequence the US Military occupation in Iraq.

Arguably the governments globally should be following the Uppsala protocol which would bring prices down. This does mean doing things like implementing Colin Channen's DTQ system.

We do, however, have to be careful to protect many people on low incomes from the consequences of the squandering of natural resources by the jet set.

[grinu]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politi ... 311812.ece

"Motorists face rationing at petrol stations under emergency plans that are being drawn up by ministers to combat this week's fuel protests, The Independent on Sunday has learnt."

[/url]

[marknorthfield]

Couldn't help but notice the Treasury response in that Scotsman piece.

...We believe the biggest priority in
terms of reducing fuel costs must be working with the American
government to restore production levels affected by the Hurricane
Katrina disaster, as well as maintaining pressure on OPEC to set
their oil production at levels consistent with more stable and
sustainable prices.

So if prices spike it's OPEC's fault for not trying hard enough?

Oh dear.

[grinu]

There are quite a few 'reports' kicking about that say the same thing unfortunately. Opec's agreed to produce 2million more bpd, but I can't see what good it will do if the refining capacity isn't there.

[tim]

John Hemming wrote:

"We do, however, have to be careful to protect many people on low incomes from the consequences of the squandering of natural resources by the jet set."

Yes, but this awareness should make you critical of the forced functional 'rationing' that will occur as a result of another blockade / strike / whathaveyou that empties supermarket shelves.

Those behind this peoples militia are responding to the same stimulus as those of us who are promoting an awareness of PO, but the two groups are not contiguous - neither is simply a sub-set of the other. I for one disagree with their tactics due to the social harm it causes. It reminds me of the old SWP tactic to 'bring the revolution forward, comrade, by making things worse faster', and as such is ill-conceived and barely more than a throwing the toy from the crib tantrum.

Also, though I agree price control is a necessity, you are living in cloud cuckoo land if you think that the global capitalist machine will make this possible - or, more to the point, possible for poor nations, as we all know that the nations who give the most lip service to 'free' markets, like the USA and UK, will happily intervene in the market at the drop of a hypocritical hat as they figure they have the power to get away with it and buck capital.

I have my doubts about the UK's ability to get far like that, though the US has in recent years managed to pull a few fast ones.

I am not a subscriber to free market ideology, my criticism of the tendency in rich nations to ignore the 'free' in the term when it suits them is based in their responsibility for the more iniquitous effects of free market ideology on poorer nations. As I say they are hypocrites. They have no ethics, and a free market can only be stablilising and useful if it is constrained by a shared ethic, not let run rampant, only checked by those most powerful, who are usually those gaining most from it.

I'd like us to be able to control price of fossil-fuel commodities internationally, and allocation also, as DTQ's seem to make possible, but doubt the systems ability to allow it to happen until price escalates to the point where yet more nations are dragged into resource wars - ie, until the price of war outstrips the gains of a wealth pyramid for those who call the shots. Those guys are not us guys, though we may seek to convince some of them.

The blockades are a response based in disempowerment, and as such I understand them and have some sympathy, but I believe them to be deeply misguided. A couple of weeks with no bread and the army on the streets and I'll be quite happy (on an immediate response / gut level, NOT intectually, but think how most daily mail and sun reading members of our population will feel) to see the ringleaders carted off to jail (said tabloid readers will be happy with a lynching, whether the blockaders of Tony will matter little, just someone seen to pay). This scares the crap out of me, as how long wold it be in a fake democracy like ours before it is me and thee that they round up for subversion... ;-)

half, but only half, joking...

Tim

[EmptyBee]

Leading hauliers were called in for a meeting with Department of Trade and Industry officials last week, at which they were warned that police have new powers to remove blockades

I think that if large scale protests go ahead, their duration will be entirely down to the 'good will' of the government. It's obvious that they have the emergency powers to stop this whenever they want. The government and police have numerous powers legislated in response to the last protest, and other anti-terrorism laws that have since come into being, such as declaring a state of emergency and calling out the troops if necessary.

The only question is how long they will hold off using these powers to avoid seeming heavy handed. Maybe they'll wait until the Daily Moron is clamouring for an end to the protests before they step in.

All the talk of fuel rationing makes me wonder if they're not planning on taking the opportunity to allow a mini fuel crisis to take place just to test their level of preparedness. Stranger things have happened. Then again the whole thing could be a damp squib when the protests fail to garner any public support or momentum.

[johnhemming]

There is, however, a campaigning opportunity for anyone wishing to emphasise peak oil issue.

That is to take large A0 posters (I can print small quantities of these) to sites where TV cameras are going.

It is important to remember, however, that people's underlying priorities are essentially the same.

Personally I beleive that rationing fuel supplies merely through price is unfair and that we will need some other rationing system. The DTQ is not that bad an idea, but may not be the solution.

Globally the Uppsala Protocol is all about using controls other than price controls.

[RevdTess]

Personally I beleive that rationing fuel supplies merely through price is unfair and that we will need some other rationing system. The DTQ is not that bad an idea, but may not be the solution.

I think a totally fair fuel rationing system would be very complex indeed. One can imagine the low-quality extra-polluting gasoline that might become available on a black market if we get the rules wrong.

When I examined the DTQ system it seemed like a reasonable first attempt, but still full of problems and opportunities for unethical exploitation.

But if we are to have a fuel rationing system at some point, then I hope it incorporates a way to sell any unused quota back to the government at regular intervals so that fuel frugality is properly rewarded.

[fishertrop]

In another thread...

I cannot help thinking that the government is allowing the protestors
the oxygen of publicity to give themselves a dry run at fuel rationing,
and maybe up the panic level in the populace ready for the next round of
control measures - perhaps some form of id card based rationing?

This morning my local petrol station had a queue outside and onto the road.

By chance I happened to catch the local news on one of those very cheesy local radio stations, who's top story was the long list of petrol stations in my area that are over-subscribed.

There doesn't actually need to be ANY refinary blockades if the media convince the public that something is going to happen, since their pre-crisis panic buying will make a crisis all by itself.

It's bonkers, what kind of system to we live in? The Uk should be collectively ashamed of itself.

I'm begining to think tho that we might be better off having a serious and prolong run of protests; proper blockades and a few schuffles with the police - that way the public can both get more to grips with fuel and energy issues and stop p1ssing about asking for fuel tax cuts (such a crisis would surely generate LOTS of headlines and soundbites, the only thing many people take notice of...) AND they can see how they feel about widespread "special powers" being used.

It seems in the Uk we NEVER see the train coming and move our collective car off the tracks, we only ever act on a problem when one or a bunch of crisis have actually hit.

[fishertrop]

Fuel protests 'causing no panic'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4236676.stm

There are no signs of motorists panic-buying at petrol pumps ahead of planned refinery blockades, fuel retailers have told BBC News.

They obv haven't been to my neighbourhood!

Or maybe it's a plan to calm people nerves with soothing language....

[grinu]

'Brisk' sales on petrol forecourts...

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/economic ... 26,00.html

[skeptik]

There are quite a few 'reports' kicking about that say the same thing unfortunately. Opec's agreed to produce 2million more bpd, but I can't see what good it will do if the refining capacity isn't there.

I watched House Committee on Gasoline prices on C-Span the other day.. A representative of the organisation which represents the oil refineries in the USA testified that just before Katrina hit, US refineries were running at 98% capacity. More or less flat out. No wonder they've had quite a few breakdowns this year.

Refinery capacity in the USA is, as you say, currently the major problem.

If you wanted to build one you'd have in your planning application to show how you intended to satisfy over 800 regulations, and local environmentalists would challenge you one by one. In the USA as far as refineries are concerned they are Ultra NIMBY's. The only planning application still in play is for *ONE* refinery in Arizona, and the planning approval process for that has already been going for over a decade.

As a result , no new refineries built snce 1976 (think thats the right date - from memory, so dont quote without checking) and since then quite a few older less efficient ones have closed. Output has been increased by upgrading those left. Even so that hasnt kept up with demand. Even before Katrina, the USA was importing finished petroleum products as well as crude oil. Now a significant portion of refinery capacity is down. Result, global problem.

All the talk of pressuring OPEC to increase production is bull. The USA strategic reserve is full. Theres enough crude about at the moment, just not enouth petrol. And If I was a Yank I'd be more worried about having enough Natural Gas available to keep warm if its a cold winter. Loisiana also produced a lot of natural gas offshore, and its a mess out there. That's a problem as North America is close to Peak Gas, and they have very limited LNG import capacity - about 1% of total consumption.

Hark! I hear a giant sucking sound in the west...

[fishertrop]

Panic buying begins as motorists fear petrol blockades

http://www.guardian.co.uk/oil/story/0,1 ... 78,00.html

Drivers were caught in hour-long queues in London, Yorkshire and Essex, while in the West Country and the Midlands some fuel stations ran out of petrol temporarily.

[Andy Hunt]

Yes to the blockades . . . the faster people realise they can't depend on fossil fuels, the better.

The sooner shocks like this come, the more time people will have to prepare. Like Katrina, where the oil is still under the sea, here the petrol will still be in the refineries, but people will be looking for alternative fuels. It will benefit us in the long run.

This is why I believe the Government will allow the blockades to go ahead. Gordon Brown blames OPEC, the protestors blame the Government, OPEC blames global demand and inefficiencies. At the end of the day, if we rely on fossil fuels, we have only ourselves to blame.