Experts are warning a severe oil and gas shortage could be just weeks away as fuel prices hit 18-month highs. Government emergency plans include petrol rationing and a 50mph speed limit, with a Labour minister refusing to rule out the measures
Proposals to ration petrol and restrict motorists to 50mph across all UK roads have been placed back under consideration following a refusal to dismiss measures aimed at controlling the supply of petrol and diesel to drivers amid soaring prices.
Costs at forecourts have surged recently, with the RAC confirming the average price of unleaded petrol has reached 141.5p and diesel stands at 160.3p, both representing 18-month peaks for fuel.
Today, a Labour Treasury minister declined to rule out petrol rationing in response to the crisis, and government proposals outlined in the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero under its National Emergency Plan for Fuel reveal precisely how rationing would operate in practice should it be introduced.
Louisa James, Political Correspondent at ITV’s Good Morning Britain, stated 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.”, reports the Express.
“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.”
The National Emergency Plan for Fuel states: “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 whether the Government was preparing 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.”
Pressed once more on whether the Government was developing contingency plans to ration petrol, Mr Tomlinson responded: “We will monitor the situation, and we’ll monitor it carefully.”
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