* Army tanker drivers to be deployed if needed
* Trucker shortage has hit supply chains
* Government says will extend some HGV licences
* Minister and industry says panic buying is easing
By Michael Holden
LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The British government says it
is putting the military on standby as part of further measures
to address a supply chain crisis which has led fuel pumps to run
dry amid panic-buying by motorists.
The move to mobilise the army comes after a widespread
shortage of truck drivers, which has led to serious supply
problems for retailers and restaurants in the past few months,
has meant plentiful stocks of fuel have not reached filling
stations.
A warning of fuel supply shortages at the end of last week
has led to panic buying, with long lines of cars waiting for
hours to fill up, and resulted in pumps in cities across Britain
running dry.
The government had already announced plans to issue
temporary visas for 5,000 foreign truck drivers, suspend
competition laws and entice former drivers back into the
industry as part of measures to deal with the labour shortage.
It said it would now put a limited number of military tanker
drivers on a state of readiness to be deployed if necessary.
"While the fuel industry expects demand will return to its
normal levels in the coming days, it’s right that we take this
sensible, precautionary step," business minister Kwasi Kwarteng
said in a statement late on Monday.
"If required, the deployment of military personnel will
provide the supply chain with additional capacity as a temporary
measure to help ease pressures caused by spikes in localised
demand for fuel."
The army tanker drivers will receive specialised training
before deploying to help deal with supply chain issues, the
government said.
The demand for fuel has meant that 50% to 90% of pumps were
dry in some areas of Britain, according The Petrol Retailers
Association (PRA), which represents independent fuel retailers
who account for 65% of all the 8,380 UK forecourts.
The fuel industry says there is no shortage, and the issue
is transporting petrol and diesel to forecourts.
"As many cars are now holding more fuel than usual, we
expect that demand will return to its normal levels in the
coming days, easing pressures on fuel station forecourts. We
would encourage everyone to buy fuel as they usually would,"
said a joint statement from fuel firms.
However, hauliers, gas stations and retailers say there are
no quick fixes as the shortfall of truck drivers - estimated to
be around 100,000 - was so acute, and because transporting fuel
demands additional training and licensing.
The government said it was also extending specific HGV
(heavy good vehicle) licences, which allow drivers to transport
fuel, for those whose permits were due to expire in the next
three months to allow them to keep working without having to
take refresher courses.
Transport Minister Grant Shapps said they were already
seeing an easing of demand at gas stations as the public
responded to the message not to buy fuel unnecessarily.
"Even though the current network of tanker drivers is
capable of delivering all the fuel we need – we have taken the
additional step of asking the army to help plug the gap, whilst
new HGV drivers come on stream thanks to all the other measures
we’ve already taken," he said.
(Reporting by Michael Holden
Editing by Alistair Bell)
