"Big Challenges": Many gas stations are running out of fuel - that's the reason

Created: 08/11/2022, 09:32

By: Theresa Kuchler

No fuel at the pump: Some gas stations in the district are currently feeling the effects of the mineral oil suppliers' supply bottlenecks.

© Hans-Helmut Herold

Many motorists are currently finding that they have to drive from one gas station to the next.

The reason: lack of fuel at the pump.

We once asked why that was.

District – Because the fuel needle in his car kept moving down, a reader wanted to stop at a gas station in Weilheim earlier this week.

When he got to the gas pump, however, the man had to realize that he couldn't get any fuel here.

There was simply no fuel left for the gas station to sell him.

The search for petrol was also unsuccessful at two other gas stations that the driver visited in Weilheim.

In fact, this field report from our reader is not an isolated case.

At the moment it is more common that the gas stations in the region do not get enough fuel and the supply at the pump is significantly reduced.

The reason for this lies in the logistics - because they are currently struggling with several problems.

Lack of fuel at the pump: The low water level of the Rhine is also a cause

When asked by our newspaper, the business association "Fuels und Energie en2x", which includes Shell, Esso and Jet, shared the reasons for the supply bottlenecks at petrol stations.

On the one hand, the persistently low water level of the Rhine is responsible for the fact that "just fewer mineral oil products can be transported on the river".

This eliminates an important transport route for the fuel suppliers.

Added to this would be the partial failure of an important refinery in Austria, the shortage of drivers for tankers and congestion on the freight railway.

The petrol station association also explains that numerous companies are increasingly switching to heating oil, which is putting an additional strain on delivery capacities.

After all, they are "not available for the transport of petrol and diesel during this time".

According to "Fuels und Energie en2x", the increased volume of traffic during the summer holidays also plays a role in why many petrol stations in southern Germany are not being reliably supplied.

Petrol station association sees itself “confronted with major challenges”

At the same time, the association emphasizes that such vacancies are “always only temporary and not nationwide” and that there are enough mineral oil products on the market.

But: "We are confronted with great challenges in transporting petrol, diesel or heating oil to the destinations at the right time and in sufficient quantities".

According to the petrol station association, the situation is not expected to improve in the near future.

(By the way: everything from the region is also in our regular Schongau newsletter. And in our Weilheim-Penzberg newsletter.)

The fact that there were no tankers with fresh fuel deliveries happened again and again at the Aral filling station in Peiting.

"But that's not the rule," explains operator Elisabeth Kehrer.

There are currently no petrol or diesel bottlenecks at her filling station – only Super Plus cannot be delivered more often at the moment.

"The new delivery didn't come with a Super Plus either," says Kehrer.

She couldn't say why that was.

Aral is responsible for replenishing the pumps itself: as soon as the fuel runs out, the group's scheduling takes care of a new delivery, says the Peiting native.

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"Who knows what's to come": Gas station operators are faced with uncertainty

Of course, Kehrer regrets that she cannot offer Super Plus at her pumps.

However, the fuel is more of a “niche product” anyway, and the demand for it is not too high.

Old-timer drivers in particular would buy the fuel, explains the operator.

It is currently difficult to predict whether there will soon be a shortage of petrol and diesel at the Aral filling station in Peiting.

"Who knows what's to come," says Elisabeth Kehrer, also referring to the falling water levels of the Rhine, which are currently causing problems for ship transport.

If the logistics situation in the industry remains so tense, more petrol pumps could soon be dry.

And then also in Peiting.

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