DRIVERS who need to fill up their tank with petrol and diesel have "no idea" there are shortages until they turn up to the forecourts to fill up their tanks.
Oxfordshire is suffering from a fuel crisis, brought on by environmental protesters blocking major oil terminals across the country.
The campaign, conducted by the environmental group Just Stop Oil, is part of a planned wave of protests against UK oil infrastructure. The efforts are supported by Extinction Rebellion, whose activists have been mobilised to join the protests.
As a result of all the blockades, several petrol stations across Oxfordshire have reported having either no fuel, very little fuel, or a general concern that their supply will run out within the next few days.
A store worker at the BP garage on Cherwell Drive, Marston, said: “We have Diesel Ultimate, but that’s all. The delivery came in at midnight and will probably only last us until the end of the day.”
One lady who was filling up her Land Rover at the station said: "I didn’t know there was a problem at all, I was quite surprised when I arrived here to find all the fuel pumps bagged up.”
This appeared to be true of several drivers, as 10-20 cars turned into the petrol station only to find that there was no fuel, and so quickly left.
One man said: “I was not at all aware of this, there is no option but super-diesel, which is 20p more than regular.”
Another lady, seemingly confused at the pump closures, said: I had no idea about this, I’ve just been to Kidlington, completely shut.”
The fuel ‘shortage’ is not just affecting Oxfordshire, protesters have blocked tankers from delivering fuel to stations in Warwickshire, Essex, Hampshire, and the West Midlands. It has been reported that some activists are climbing on top of tankers, and in some extreme cases gluing themselves to the roads outside the oil terminals.
One man at the station said: “I am from Reading, and some petrol pumps are closing over there. But Diesel is okay at the moment.”
A store worker at a BP in Kidlington said: “If people get wind of the shortage they tend to come and buy more fuel, which can cause issues.”
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