UK could run out of diesel
06/09/2015
The RAC Foundation has claimed that Britain’s diesel pumps could “run dry” due to a continuing dependence on foreign fuel.
The research from the RACF shows that the UK’s dependence on diesel has been rising for decades, and UK refineries are beginning to struggle. 2014 saw 11 million diesel cars on the road, compared to just 1.6 million 10 years prior. The RACF now believe that at this rate, diesel will be four times more popular than petrol by 2030.
The growing demand has lead to the UK consuming more diesel than it produces, and growing dependence on countries such as Russia and India has lead to the UK’s diesel supply "at the mercy of the global market".
In 2009 there where nine big refineries in the UK. Since then, three have shut down and others are up for sale. The older refineries are not equipped to produce diesel, and would cost billions of pounds to convert.
RACF director Steve Gooding said:
"Even if we are not in conflict with those countries that control the taps, they might simply decide they need more of what they produce for their own markets.
"If supply is interrupted, then at best we'll see sharp rises in forecourt prices and, at worst, there is the unlikely but real possibility of pumps running dry."
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