UK: The fuel panic begins

MOTORISTS laid siege to Scotland’s forecourts yesterday, stockpiling against a feared fuel shortage as the country’s only oil refinery continued a phased shutdown in the face of strike action.

With ministers warning against panic, a snapshot survey of garages by The Scotsman found 5am queues at the pumps, sales increases of up to 50 per cent and prices already on the rise. At least one petrol station ran out of fuel completely.


The chaos came as pension negotiations between unions and management at the Grangemouth refinery appeared to break down completely. The owner, Ineos, claimed Unite officials had refused to engage in talks