BP has temporarily closed a handful of its petrol stations across the UK due to a shortage of lorry drivers, the oil company confirmed. The closures, which affect a small number of the 300 sites directly operated by BP out of 1,200 branded stations, have led to a lack of unleaded and diesel fuel at those locations.
BP attributed the supply chain delays to industry-wide driver shortages, stating it is working with its haulier supplier to minimise disruption and ensure efficient deliveries. Esso also reported that a small number of its 200 Tesco Alliance retail sites have been affected, while Morrisons, Co-op, Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Asda said they are not currently experiencing similar issues.
Downing Street urged the public to continue buying fuel as normal, with a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson emphasising that there is no shortage of fuel in the UK. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps linked the driver shortage to poor working conditions and said the government is taking steps to address the problem, including making it quicker for HGV drivers to obtain licences.
Paul Cheema, who runs a petrol station in Coventry, reported unprecedented delivery delays, with orders pushed back by days and leading to a 40% impact on sales. The Petrol Retailers Association noted that delays are largely confined to London and the South East and are temporary, with fuel demand still at 92% of pre-pandemic levels.
