First precedence in UK gas rationing plans revealed as petrol costs skyrocket
Government emergency plans reveal who would get priority access to fuel if Middle East crisis continues to cause supply problems, with emergency services first in line and restrictions possible for the public
Certain groups will get priority for petrol rations(Image: Getty)
Petrol and diesel rationing schemes are prepared and ready for deployment by government should the Middle East crisis continue creating supply difficulties and driving prices upwards.
This week, a Labour Treasury minister declined to dismiss petrol and diesel rationing following the continuing Iran conflict and supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have already triggered a surge in petrol costs and shortage scenes at certain forecourts.
Government contingency plans from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero under its National Emergency Plan for Fuel outline precisely how rationing would operate in practice if enacted and which groups would receive top priority.
Forecourt prices have soared recently, with the RAC confirming average unleaded petrol costs now stand at 141.5p whilst diesel reaches 160.3p, representing 18-month peaks for fuel. The National Emergency Plan for Fuel establishes who receives priority access to fuel, reports the Express.
It states that emergency services and ‘critical service vehicles’ would take precedence before all other motorists. Subsequently, utilities including gas and electricity providers plus water companies would gain next priority, followed by public transport such as buses and diesel trains.
Commercial vehicles would follow next, including lorries transporting food to and from supermarkets, plus health-related deliveries. Finally, ordinary motorists could face limits on the quantity of petrol they can purchase at once, as well as encountering reduced operating hours at petrol stations.
The document clarifies: “The majority of potential fuel supply disruptions can be addressed by measures to help industry maintain fuel supply; these would be deployed by DESNZ in co-ordination with industry and other government departments. However, the government does have emergency powers under the Energy Act 1976, which it can use to control supply and demand of petroleum products. It should be noted that use of these emergency powers is reserved for the most severe of disruptions. These measures would only be activated in the event of a severe national fuel supply shortage.”
When questioned if the Government was prepared to implement such plans, Dan Tomlinson informed Times Radio: “At the moment, it is too early to tell what the impact of this crisis will be in the coming months.
“What we have seen in the last two weeks is that there has been sharp increase in the cost of oil used to heat people’s homes, and the Government has stepped in and said we’re going to provide £50 million of support for people across the UK who are reliant on heating oil.”
When pressed again on whether the Government was formulating contingency plans to ration petrol, Mr Tomlinson responded: “We will monitor the situation, and we’ll monitor it carefully.”
Louisa James, Political Correspondent at ITV’s Good Morning Britain, warned on Tuesday morning: “There are experts warning that a severe shortage of oil and gas is now just weeks away. As you would expect the government has emergency plans in place which will be activated in the event of a severe disruption.
“Those are published online and they include things like petrol rationing, giving emergency services and public transport priority for fuel. Also reportedly a temporary 50mph speed limit to reduce demand for fuel. A government source told us that the UK has ‘a diverse and resilient’ supply of fuel, that petrol stations are well stocked, that imports are arriving.”
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