“Sorry out of use” signs hang from many pumps across the city, and forecourts have been blocked off as swarms of cars line up to try and fill both their tanks and fuel cans.
The Glasgow Times visited several fuel stations across the city; some were closed because they had run out of fuel, while others were open and had varying supplies.
Staff at all locations assured us that fuel deliveries were arriving as usual and that the pumps running dry were due to customers’ panic buying amid soaring prices.
One customer at the pumps today told us she was making sure she had “filled up amid all the news about fuel shortages,” but admitted that “it was too expensive to fill a full tank.”
Tesco’s fuel station in Shettleston was completely closed (Image: Newsquest)
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Fuel prices have risen as oil prices are said to have soared since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil trade passes, during the ongoing conflict.
The UK’s Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said that “Iran is trying to hold the global economy hostage,” in a statement after a meeting with more than 40 nations from across the world.
The RAC said the average price of a litre of diesel at UK forecourts on Wednesday was 184.2p, up 29% since the conflict in the Middle East began on February 28.
The cost of petrol is at a 28-month high, average prices have reached 153.7p per litre, a rise of 16% over the same period.
The Tesco fuel station in Shettleston closed today because it was out of all fuel types.
Dozens of vehicles arrived at the retail park while we were there, only to turn straight back around as they saw the fuel station was closed.
One taxi driver joked to a member of Tesco staff: “You got the day off today, aye?”
A short drive away, Tesco’s Dalmarnock fuel station had run dry of unleaded petrol.
Two other garages we visited, Kelvinside and Maryhill Essos, were operating normally, with no queues, and a man was spotted filling multiple fuel cans.
Massive queues of vehicles have been spotted at Costco at St Rollox Business Park (Image: Newsquest)
However, long, continuous queues formed at Costco at St Rollox Business Park in Springburn.
There was a constant stream of vehicles into the fuel station, which boasts some of the cheapest fuel prices in town, with around 60 in the queue at any time.
A member of staff at Costco said they’re “looking good” on fuel supply and “don’t think they’ll be running out anytime soon”.
They dismissed previous reports yesterday that some of Costco’s pumps were closed due to running out of fuel.
The Tesco fuel station next door to Costco had run dry of petrol. A supervisor at the St Rollox Tesco Extra petrol station said their morning delivery “came in fine” but that they have seen “panic buying.”
When asked if they thought they might be closing early, the worker replied “no” as they had “a lot of diesel left”.
The Tesco fuel station at St Rollox Retail Park was deserted as they only had diesel (Image: Newsquest)
Morrisons in Baillieston had run out of petrol and diesel and could only supply queuing customers with super unleaded.
An attendant in the Morrison’s Daily told the Glasgow Times: “It’s been crazy, we had fuel this morning, but it’s almost completely gone now.
“People have been filling four or five cans in the back of their cars as well as their tank; we can’t see them until we look at the CCTV, but it’s been mental, so we can’t stop them.”
Cars were still queuing up for the busy supermarket fuel station, some getting agitated and honking their horns only to drive away after finding there was no fuel at the pumps.
Agitated drivers queued up for Morrisons at Baillieston where only 3 pumps had fuel (Image: Newsquest)
Despite closures in Glasgow, some of the UK’s biggest retailers, like Tesco, have insisted there is no shortage and that they have “good availability” of all fuel grades, with regular deliveries to all stores.
As we approach the Easter weekend, fuel industry chiefs have pleaded with drivers not to panic buy.
A joint statement from Fuels Industry UK CEO Elizabeth de Jong and the Executive Director of the Petrol Retailers Association, Gordon Balmer, said: “The Easter Weekend is one of the busiest times on UK roads with lots of people planning to travel.
“Supply across the UK is flowing normally and there is no need for any change in usual buying habits – if one forecourt is popular, there will be others to go to.”
Hundreds of motorists appear to be panic buying at Costco in Glasgow (Image: James Chapelard)
The Financial Times reports that the UK is set to receive its last tanker of jet fuel from the Middle East this week.
Ryanair may need to cancel 10% of its flights in the early summer, its CEO has warned, if the war in Iran continues to affect jet fuel prices.
Dan Jorgensen, energy chief for the European Commission, warned that Europe is facing a “very serious situation” amid a fuel shortage and a looming cost-of-living crisis, with no end in sight to the conflict.
Although the UK has not implemented any fuel-saving measures, a raft of countries around the world have already begun introducing them.
In Australia, two states have made public transport free to incentivise people to avoid driving.
Egypt, which relies heavily on imported oil, has also introduced temporary measures, including requiring non-essential workers to work from home one day a week.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has declared a national emergency, with its government offering subsidies to transport drivers, reducing ferry services, and implementing a four-day workweek for civil servants.
