Britain announced on Friday that the military will start distributing fuel to gas stations beginning Monday, following a shortage of tanker drivers that led to citizens rushing to purchase fuel and prompted the government to exempt foreign drivers from visa requirements. The British government stated, "About 200 personnel from the military transport units will be deployed, including 100 drivers, starting Monday to provide temporary support as part of the government's broader effort to alleviate the pressure facing fuel stations and address the shortage of heavy truck drivers."
Since the beginning of the week, cars have been lining up in queues outside gas stations across Britain, resulting in depleted supplies and causing frustration among drivers. British Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng stated, "Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the fuel sector over the past week, we are seeing ongoing signs of improvement at the stations, albeit slowly." He added, "It is important to emphasize that there is no national fuel shortage in the UK, and citizens should continue to purchase fuel as usual. The sooner we return to our normal purchasing patterns, the faster we can return to normalcy."
The government attributes the crisis to a shortage of tanker drivers and unprecedented demand for fuel. As fuel demand stabilized during the week, stations began to gradually replenish their supplies, although some areas still face acute shortages. Military drivers were put on standby at the beginning of the week and underwent specialized training. The British government also implemented significant changes to its strict immigration policies by exempting foreign truck drivers from short-term visa requirements to help fill the gap.
Fuel companies, including Shell, BP, and Esso, stated that there is "an abundance of fuel at refineries in the UK," and that demand is expected to return to normal soon. However, after a week of waiting in queues, many drivers in various parts of the country are still unable to obtain fuel, raising concerns about the economic repercussions of this situation. Critics have blamed the government for the crisis, citing its failure to address the shortage of tanker drivers after Brexit and the COVID pandemic, which caused many foreign truck drivers to leave the country.
