BP is being forced to close some of its petrol stations as the lorry driver shortage causes problems with the UK’s fuel supply.
According to the company just a “handful” of its 1200 sites are “temporarily” closing as it works to address the problems.
The UK faces a shortage of about 60,000 HGV drivers after many of them returned home to European countries when the pandemic struck – and never came back after Brexit rules made working here harder.
The problem has lead to shortages on supermarket shelves and some restaurants having to shut up shop due to supply difficulties.
READ MORE: Empty supermarket shelves and panic buying likely if no action taken, UK warned
Now, at the same time as the UK Government attempts to tackle the rocketing price of wholesale gas and stop further energy firms going bust, BP has warned its supply chains are being impacted by driver shortages.
“We continue to work with our haulier supplier to minimise disruption and to ensure efficient and effective deliveries,” the firm said in a statement.
BP is now rationing fuel deliveries, according to reports.
The company told the Government in a meeting last Thursday that last its ability to transport fuel from refineries to its network of forecourts was faltering.
BP’s head of UK retail, Hanna Hofer, said it was important the UK Government understood the “urgency of the situation”, which she described as “bad, very bad”, according to a report by ITV News.
According to the broadcaster, Hofer said BP had “two-thirds of normal forecourt stock levels required for smooth operations” and the level is “declining rapidly”.
It is unclear how soon deliveries could be restricted but fuel will not be restocked for one and a half days a week “very soon”.
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