The current gas crisis in the UK is resulting in long lineups at the pump.
By: Rawan Alshehri
Multiple gas companies around the UK have reported a shortage of gas supplies in the past few days. This news naturally has driven many people to panic buying, and long queues of vehicles started to form at gas stations all over the country.
However, the British government has denied having a gas shortage, but rather a shortage in heavy goods vehicles (HGV) drivers. Since the British Government decided to leave the European Union (EU) back in 2016, a large number of EU workers left the UK. As a result, the UK has lost between 15,000 to 20,000 lorry drivers.
“I’d urge everyone to go about their business in the normal way and fill up only when you really need it.” Said Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to reassure the public that the situation is improving, and the supplies are coming back onto the forecourts.
The government has responded to this crisis by taking the necessary measures in order to solve the issue. One solution was to speed up the process of getting an HGV driver license. The government also has decided to offer temporary visas to foreign fuel drivers, well as suspending the competition between oil companies.
According to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), there are early signs that this crisis is ending. As more members of the association report taking further deliveries of fuel. And, although deliveries have been reduced, the fuel stocks remain normal at refineries and terminals.
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