During the meeting, attendees discussed issues caused by
supply chain pressures and spikes in localised demand.
As a result, Businesses Secretary has
this evening agreed to implement a measure to temporarily
exempt industry from the Competition Act 1998 for the
purpose of sharing information and optimising supply.
Known as The Downstream Oil Protocol, this step will allow
Government to work constructively with fuel producers,
suppliers, hauliers and retailers to ensure that disruption
is minimised as far as possible.
The measure will make it easier for industry to share
information, so that they can more easily prioritise the
delivery of fuel to the parts of the country and strategic
locations that are most in need.
Business Secretary said:
We have long-standing contingency plans in place to
work with industry so that fuel supplies can be
maintained and deliveries can still be made in the event
of a serious disruption.
While there has always been and continues to be plenty of
fuel at refineries and terminals, we are aware that there
have been some issues with supply chains. This is why we
will enact the Downstream Oil Protocol to ensure industry
can share vital information and work together more
effectively to ensure disruption is minimised.
We thank HGV drivers and all forecourt staff for their
tireless work during this period.
The decision follows a package of measures announced over
the weekend which will see the Government ease temporary
supply chain pressures brought on by the pandemic and the
global economy rebounding around the world.
These include an immediate increase in HGV testing, short
term visas for HGV drivers and new skills bootcamps to
train up to 3,000 more people to become HGV drivers.
In a joint statement, stakeholders* said:
We are in regular contact with Government ministers and
policy officials and it was reassuring to meet with the
Business Secretary again on Sunday evening and discuss
further action.
We will continue to work closely in partnership over this
period with local and national Government and want to
reassure the public that the issues that have arisen are
due to temporary spikes in customer demand, not a
national shortage of fuel.
Notes to editors
Joint statement from:
- Fuels Transport and Logistics (FTL)
- Greenergy
- Wincanton
- Shell
- Certas
- XPO
- UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA)
- Association of Convenience Stores
- ExxonMobil
- BP
