Damascus-SANA
The fuel crisis in Britain has been exacerbated by the shortage of oil derivatives for several days, amid a state of panic and anxiety among drivers who queued their cars in long queues in front of stations to refuel, while the government asked the army to prepare for certain tasks to alleviate the crisis.
The British Ministry of Energy said in a statement yesterday evening that a limited number of military tanker drivers will be put on alert and deployed if necessary to further stabilize the fuel supply chain.
On his part, British Environment Minister George Eustice warned that people buying petrol without needing it is the reason for the long queues in front of gas stations. He said that petrol is available in abundance and urged people to buy it in the usual way, expecting things to return to normal soon.
In the context of measures to contain the crisis, the British government decided to suspend the competition law to allow oil companies to send fuel shipments to petrol stations directly.
Officials said the move would make it easier for companies to share information and prioritize areas of greatest need in the country, while Business Minister Kwasi Kwarting announced that the government had "long-term" contingency plans to maintain fuel supplies.
The government also said it would offer temporary visas to enter Britain to work until Christmas to 5,000 foreign fuel tankers and food truck drivers and 5,500 poultry workers in a bid to reduce problems with delivery of goods, as well as sending nearly a million letters to drivers with heavy truck driving licenses encouraging them to drive. Returning to the industry and making plans to train 4,000 people to become drivers of those trucks.
Despite the government's call to the population not to panic, they flocked to gas stations, while some companies indicated that they are facing difficulties in delivery that affect food supplies in shops and malls due to the repercussions of the Covid 19 pandemic and Britain's exit from the European Union.
Across Britain, signs saying "No fuel" and signs reading "Out of Service" were posted at gas stations, including about 30% of BP's giant stations affected by this crisis, which affected most sectors in the country.
Medical professionals' unions are also concerned and have received information from several of their members that they have spent the weekend trying to find fuel with no result.
The current situation in Britain is reminiscent of the 1970s, when an energy crisis caused fuel rationing and reduced the work week to three days, while protests nearly twenty years ago against high fuel prices led to the closure of refineries and paralyzed economic activity in Britain for several weeks.
Mohammed Jassim
