Fuel Shortage Planning

FUEL SUPPLY DISRUPTION PROTOCOL

Following the Hoyer tanker drivers fuel supply disruption in June 2008, the TVLRF Fuel Supply Disruption Planning Group was tasked to ensure that the LRF and its members were in a position to prepare for and co-ordinate management activities in the event of another disruptive event. Early planning for this risk changed track on receipt of the National Emergency Plan for Fuel (NEP-F) from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The group decided to change the existing protocol to incorporate new topics within the NEP-F, including response tools available should the situation deteriorate to the extent that emergency powers under the Energy Act 1976 are implemented.

It should be noted that “a state of emergency” under the Emergency Powers Act 1920 has only been used 11 times in the last 90 years, including 4 times in 2 years in the 1970s, the last time being in 1972 in response to a dock strike.

The Governments aim in this situation is to prioritise fuel to the emergency services and other essential service providers such as utility companies to make the best use of reducing quantities of fuel to minimise the impact on emergency and other essential services that underpin daily life. If there is sufficient diesel to supply emergency and other essential service providers then the surplus will be prioritised to truck stops and HGV motorway filling stations to help keep supply chains operational. Any remaining fuel would then be allocated by the oil industry to retail filling stations where it would be likely that motorists would be limited to a maximum purchase of fuel per visit to the forecourt.

The main response tools within the NEP-F are:

Maximum Purchase Scheme which would limit the general public to 15 litres of fuel per visit (though this may be variable). This is designed to ensure that all motorists have access to some fuel;

Designated Filling Stations (DFS) would provide priority access to road transport fuels for defined customers requiring them for a priority use. DECC would implement the scheme designating a number of filling stations for the provision of fuel for the Emergency Services Scheme and Utilities Fuel Scheme use only. Fuel suppliers/distributors will be instructed to give priority deliveries of fuel to these sites;

  • Commercial Scheme which prioritises diesel supply to commercial filling stations and truck stops to support the continuation of critical supply chains;
  • The Emergency Services Scheme under which fuel would be prioritised to designated filling Stations and would allow unlimited fuel to blue light emergency vehicles;
  • Utilities Fuel Scheme under which fuel would be prioritised to designated Filling Stations for use by logoed vehicles in the delivery of pre-identified essential services;
  • Bulk Distribution Scheme which enables oil companies and distributors to prioritise fuel products to supply retail filling stations, truck stops, depots and commercial storage sites;
  • Mutual Aid Scheme under which DECC has encouraged organisations to develop voluntary mutual aid arrangements to support the delivery of essential services.
  • The fuel planning group has identified a number of Designated Filling Stations within the Thames Valley area and these are updated on a quarterly basis.
  • The TVLRF Fuel Supply Disruption Protocol version 1 - January 2010 was ratified by the LRF on 11 February 2010.

The fuel planning group has identified a number of Designated Filling Stations within the Thames Valley area and these are updated on a quarterly basis.

The TVLRF Fuel Supply Disruption Protocol version 1 - January 2010 was ratified by the LRF on 11 February 2010.