With Possible Truckers' Strike Looming, Panic Gasoline Buying Begins In UK - Times

[hatrack]

Last-ditch talks to avert a strike by 641 tanker drivers who supply one in 10 UK petrol stations have begun at a secret location. Despite pleas from Downing Sreet for motorists to stay calm and refrain from panic buying, industry experts believe the move will backfire and that in the next 48 hours before Friday’s 6am deadline for strike action, motorists in parts of the country will rush to the pumps.

There is particular concern that motorists with almost full tanks could exacerbate problems by topping up with 10 or 15 extra litres instead of buying normally. It was this pattern of buying which caused a run on petrol supplies in Scotland, when strike action hit Grangemouth oil refinery at the end of April.

One option might be to introduce a minimum sale of £30 to £40 at forecourts to deter panic buyers - but such a move is unlikely unless a strike is called and there is a nationwide run at the pumps.

At present, however, ministers are not keen to introduce emergency powers to ration fuel and are hoping a deal will be reached to call off action.

EDIT

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article4112610.ece

[ladjf]

1. This is the leading edge of the probable chaos in transportation

unless the prices of gas and diesel begins to go down. The airlines are barely surviving now.

[Zachstar]

2. The airlines are doomed period.

The problem is truckers. They are at the point where they just have part of the nose above water.

They can't hold yet oil continues to remain high. Everything still running now is based on reserves built on decades of cheap fuel.

[ladjf]

3. I can't even imagine the economic fallout in the event of a complete

collapse of the airline industry.

Shorterm, we've got to figure out a way to shut Bush and his cronies up. Almost daily either Bush or some official in Israel makes new bellicose statements that imply military action against Iran.

Bush and the Republicans just slapped down a windfall tax on the oil companies as well as legislation
to extend incentives in alternative energy projects.


In other words, Bush and Republicans continue to do everything possible to make the situation worse.

I just don't get it. If greed is their motive, don't they realize that a collapse of the economy would hurt their profits?

[Zachstar]

4. Ive given up on thinking how it can be prevented.

Sadly America needs hard times again in my view. It is the ONLY way we are going to move out of almost COMPLETE lack of care of our actions and planning. Where who wins American Idol is more important than who wins the nomination for president.

Too late to stop it. The oil economy is going to crash in 09 because all cash reserves are up by then. No effective trucking No effective economy. The truckers simply cant afford the current costs of fuel.


Tho because we are close enough for Obama to declare the Navy EMC2 fusion project a Manhattan Project of energy we may only have to endure a few years. Depending on how fast effective energy storage comes online. (EEstor)

[ladjf]

5. In the long term, say 12 to 15 years, we can develop the alternate

energy technologies to replace enough oil demand to break the monopoly and cause a drastic price reduction. But at the present time, nothing substantial is being done by the government to move this initiative forward. In fact, the government seems to be inhibiting the alternate energy moves.

[Zachstar]

6. .gov maybe Military? No

The navy is not dumb enough to expect some dictator thousands of miles away to continue feeding us oil. Even in the face of Iraq war budget cuts they got the EMC2 fusion program going again.

Id count that as "substantial" cause you can bet your ASS that both McCain and Obama will jump on the talk bandwagon when they demonstrate the concept is possible later this year.

[Nihil]

7. Screw the airline industry

They've had plenty of chances to adjust their consumption in the past
and what have they done? Blocked attempts to tax air fuel (across the
world), gouged their customers to increase short-term profits and ran
crying to various governments for handouts. Zero sympathy. Fuck 'em.

The truckers however I have some sympathy for and *that* is the sector
that will *really* impact the economy (not to mention the people ...).