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Competition law suspended to help tackle fuel crisis

Joanna Faith
Written By:
Joanna Faith
Posted:
Updated:
27/09/2021

The government is to suspend competition law to allow fuel companies to target petrol stations most in need of supplies.

It follows a weekend of panic buying from motorists amid fears of disruption to fuel supply.

It is hoped the temporary move will make it easier for companies to share information and prioritise fuel delivery to the parts of the country most in need.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “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.”

The decision follows a package of measures announced over the weekend by the Government in a bid to ease temporary supply chain pressures.

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.

It come as The Petrol Retailers Association warned that as many as two-thirds of its membership of nearly 5,500 independent outlets reported that they had sold out of fuel.