The UK has been grappling with a fuel crisis that has caused huge queues outside some petrol stations, and forced customers to drive round multiple sites in search of supplies…reports Asian Lite News.
The United Kingdom has been facing acute shortage of truck drivers for the past few weeks resulting in affecting almost all the sectors.
According to latest reports, deliveries to British pharmacies are being affected by the massive supply chain crisis.
The Company Chemists’ Association said that the “whole supply chain has been impacted from inbound wholesale depot supply down to outward depot deliveries to pharmacies”, media reported. Meanwhile, according to the Petrol Retailers Association, there has been no improvement in petrol supplies at independent petrol stations since Wednesday.
The industry body PRA, which represents independent fuel retailers, said that more than a quarter (27%) of its members’ were still out of fuel on Thursday, the BBC reported. 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 represents nearly 5,500 of the UK’s 8,300 petrol stations, said Thursday’s figures were based on responses from 1,500 stations.
“Trying to calm this down appears to be a monumental task at the moment,” BBC quoted PRA chairman Brian Madderson as saying.
“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.” The UK has been grappling with a fuel crisis that has caused huge queues outside some petrol stations, and forced customers to drive round multiple sites in search of supplies.
Earlier this week, the government had announced further measures to help further ease supply chain pressures and spikes in localised demand for fuel, including the approval to put on standby a pool of military drivers and extension to specific HGV licences.
British Army tanker drivers will be brought to a state of readiness in order to be deployed if required to deliver fuel to where it is needed most and providing further reassurance that fuel supplies remain strong, the government had announced. The military drivers will now receive specialised training before deploying, enabling them to seamlessly work with industry to address the supply chain pressures.
The Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request was issued by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng on Monday. “While the fuel industry expects demand will return to its normal levels in the coming days, it’s right that we take this sensible, precautionary step,” Kwarteng said.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has authorised an extension to ADR driver licences, which allow drivers to transport goods, such as fuel.
