The emergency trucks will “provide additional logistical capacity to the fuel industry.”
The government has deployed emergency tankers to deliver petrol amid the national fuel shortage.
Business Secretary Kwasi Karteng confirmed the news in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon, writing: “I can confirm the government’s Reserve Tanker Fleet will be on the road this afternoon to boost deliveries of fuel to forecourts across Britain.
“The trucks are driven by civilians and will provide additional logistical capacity to the fuel industry.”
The minister went on to say that there are now signs “the situation at the pumps has begun to improve with more stations getting fuel”.
“The sooner we can all return to our normal buying habits, the sooner the situation will return to normal,” he added.
I can confirm the government's Reserve Tanker Fleet will be on the road this afternoon to boost deliveries of fuel to forecourts across Britain.
The trucks are driven by civilians and will provide additional logistical capacity to the fuel industry (1/2)
— Kwasi Kwarteng (@KwasiKwarteng) September 29, 2021
Over the last few days petrol stations across the land after a rush of panic-buying from drivers. This came after oil companies warned they did not have enough tanker and HGV drivers to transport petrol and diesel from refineries to filling stations.
On Tuesday, Kwarteng confirmed that 150 soldiers had been mobilised to help transport the fuel to forecourts.
He said: The last few days have been difficult, we’ve seen large queues.
“But I think the situation is stabilising, we’re getting petrol into the forecourts. I think we’re going to see our way through this.”
There are hopes that the shortage will ease over the coming days, as there is no shortage of fuel at refineries.
Related links:
Where can you get petrol near you and how to use Google to check for queues
How Britain learned absolutely nothing from panic-buying bog roll and pasta
The petrol station saving its remaining fuel for emergency services and keyworkers
