Storing petrol

[whole diary]

[Bmblbzzz]

You could sell some of your stock at a premium! Then simply buy some more in a couple of weeks when people are tired of panicking.

[TonyK]

You could sell some of your stock at a premium! Then simply buy some more in a couple of weeks when people are tired of panicking.

Which reminds me - is anyone short of toilet roll? I need the spare bedrooms back soon.

[Bmblbzzz]

Are there sunflowers in the garden at Broadgage Towers? They would look very pretty around the pumps at "Broadgage Petroleum". 

[TaplowGreen]

The latest petrol panic is growing, with a significant number of filling stations running out, and long queues at others.
I may yet be glad of my modest supply.

More than 30 litres Broadgage?

If so I'm sure you will have informed your local Petroleum Enforcement Authority, as required by law?

[broadgage]

No more than 30 liters as has previously discussed. Stored in two purpose made steel jerry cans each with a capacity of 20 liters but only containing 15 liters.
Red in colour and clearly marked as to contents.

Similar cans but blue in colour are used for paraffin, there is no limit on paraffin storage AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know).

Stored in an outbuilding.

[johnneyw]

I hope the country won't talk it's way into a panic buy scenario.  The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) news website today put the amount of petrol stations running out of supply as around 1% of the 8380 in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

[JayMac]

I've seen several social media posts where people are blaming traditional media for the panic buying.

I've not read a single news item that tells people to stock up. In fact, nearly all items have quotes from industry and politicians saying there is no need to panic buy.

Classic cases of shooting the messenger.

[TonyK]

I've seen several social media posts where people are blaming traditional media for the panic buying.

I've not read a single news item that tells people to stock up. In fact, nearly all items have quotes from industry and politicians saying there is no need to panic buy.

Classic cases of shooting the messenger.

It was only when the government said there was no need to panic that I realised how serious this is, and panicked.

[didcotdean]

Some newspapers ran some pretty dramatic headlines today:

Now we are running on empty (Daily Mail)
Alarm as BP^» (Beyond Petroleum (Former name - British Petroleum) - home page) begins petrol rationing (Daily Telegraph)
Warning of fuel supply shortages amid supply chain crisis (Guardian)
Fuel rationed ... (The i)
Out of fuel: Delivery block closes pumps (FT)

The actual contents mainly have a "don't panic" theme by and large (words used in The Times headline) and "no real shortage" but this was too late.

These supply hiccups have been going on for a month or so with no scare headlines.

[broadgage]

I suspect that this shortage will not amount to much.
There is plenty of petrol at refineries and bulk storage depots. The problem is a shortage of delivery drivers.
That can be overcome by more efficient delivery planning, and if need be by military drivers.

Any actual shortage of petrol at refineries would be more serious, but I see no sign of that.

Prudent to be prepared though, just in case.

[Marlburian]

I suspect that this shortage will not amount to much.
There is plenty of petrol at refineries and bulk storage depots. The problem is a shortage of delivery drivers.
That can be overcome by more efficient delivery planning, and if need be by military drivers.

Any actual shortage of petrol at refineries would be more serious, but I see no sign of that.

Prudent to be prepared though, just in case.

The other problem is people topping up just in case, causing long queues at petrol stations. Stories are emerging of people buying £10 worth of petrol and filling cans.

How long does one leave it before taking on petrol? I usually top up when the tank is four-fifths empty, at the moment it's just over half full. I won't be joining any queues, but on short journeys over the weekend will be passing several petrol stations early in the day and if they're quiet might be tempted to pull in. Most of my driving is not essential, so morally should I leave it another week or two and hope that the panic is over?

[paul7575]

I've seen several social media posts where people are blaming traditional media for the panic buying.

I've not read a single news item that tells people to stock up. In fact, nearly all items have quotes from industry and politicians saying there is no need to panic buy.

Classic cases of shooting the messenger.

It was only when the government said there was no need to panic that I realised how serious this is, and panicked.

liked by Corporal Jones, Walmington-on-Sea

[TonyK]

I suspect that this shortage will not amount to much.
There is plenty of petrol at refineries and bulk storage depots.

Not really. The refinery blockades of a few years back (when I was driving a LPG^▸ (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) car and wasn't even remotely affected) showed what a just-in-time thing fuel is. It isn't quite out of oil tanker, through the refinery, into petrol tanker then straight to Tesco just before the pumps run dry, but it isn't far from it. The seven refineries produced 61 million tonnes of refined product in 2015, which includes heating and aviation as well as ground transport. If we assume that production is broadly similar at about 1.2 million tonnes weekly. I wouldn't be surprised if there was as much fuel in vehicle fuel tanks, fuel station forecourt tanks, and delivery tankers as there is stored in bulk as a reserve. There are about 60 storage terminals around the country, many receiving the motion potion by pipeline from the refineries to dispense into tankers for delivery by road to fuel stations - this is currently the weak link in the chain. Major airports receive fuel by pipeline, so are not going to be affected.

But I don't think the shortage will come to a great deal despite this. Some of the pumps were out of action when I filled up (from necessity) yesterday, but enough weren't, and there seemed no great urgency. We don't all fill up the car daily, and, broadgage excepted, don't have facilities for storage at home. I have a 5-litre "can" for the lawnmower, and that is the lot. I fill up usually when I have to, or if I am passing somewhere cheaper than the norm (like Sainsbury in Taunton) but I wouldn't bother unless I was down to a half tank, and normally wait until I get warned. If everybody tops up, it might mean a week of slight shortages.

[Western Pathfinder]

All this talk Of storing petrol makes me think,that those who do need to be mindful of the fact that E10 which is now standard unleaded petrol does not last anywhere near as long as its predecessor when stored in any form of container, most noticeably when kept for longer periods in metal Jerrycans it releases water vapour,that leads to rusting of the inside of said cans and subsequent contamination of the stored fuel
Thought you might like to know !..

[bobm]

It did amuse me that the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) sent a reporter to see the situation at a Stockport Petrol Station called Phil McCann.