Fuel price protests spark petrol panic buying around Britain
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-14 17:12

Protestors against high fuel prices began three days of demonstrations at oil refineries and petrol stations in Britain, a plan that has already triggered panic fuel buying nationwide.

Memories of a similar protest in 2000 have driven many motorists to their local petrol pump in recent days to fill up their cars, leaving some stations dry and suppliers struggling to meet the surging demand.

The UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA), which represents energy giants such as Shell, BP, Esso and Total, said members had seen a week's worth of demand in one day on Tuesday, but insisted there was no need to panic.

UKPIA director general Chris Hunt said the number of tankers delivering fuel to the forecourts had been increased and there was "absolutely no problem" with fuel supply.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's government is also urging people to stay calm as there is no actual shortage of supply.

Groups such as hauliers and farmers have long complained about the level of fuel duties in Britain, which are among the highest in the world.

Following recent price increases on the global oil markets, motorists at British garages are now paying out around one pound (1.5 euros, 1.8 dollars) per litre of unleaded fuel.

On Tuesday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown called for concerted international efforts to curb oil price rises, although he has refused to consider any reduction in fuel duties.

Similar protests five years ago saw refineries and storage depots blockaded by trucks, causing long queues for motorists to buy petrol, a major embarrassment for Blair.

But the new protests, again organised by a loose coalition of hauliers and farmers, which officially began at 6:00 am (0500 GMT) on Wednesday, looked likely to have far less of an impact.

Andrew Spence, leader of the Fuel Lobby and a veteran of the demonstrations in 2000, was joined by only around a dozen protesters outside a Shell refinery in Jarrow, northeast England.

He and other organisers have said that there are no plans to block fuel deliveries, but he insisted Wednesday morning that the protests were having an impact.

"We have achieved a lot in the last four or five days, the government is on the back foot yet again, and that is without even coming to the refineries," he told reporters.

At other refineries and depots considered likely targets for protests, there was no sign of disruption early Wednesday.

Other demonstrations include a planned "go-slow" on the M4 motorway through Wales on Friday, where participants will slow the major highway down to a sedate 20 miles (32 kilometres) per hour.

But in a sign that the protests will be less disruptive than previously, one group that played a leading part in the 2000 rallies, Farmers for Action, said it would not participate this time.

David Handley, founder of Farmers for Action, said he would not be taking part in any of the protests as he did not believe demonstrations would make any difference this time in changing government policy.

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