Government contingency plans designed to help the country manage potential fuel shortages could be brought back to the fore as pump prices reach a record high this weekend.
The RAC forecast that diesel would surpass its all-time price record in the UK this weekend, following the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran. Currently, prices are averaging 199.05p per litre for diesel and 174.04p for petrol, as of Sunday, September 27, according to the breakdown organisation's live price tracker.
Record prices predicted
Simon Williams, the RAC's head of policy, has predicted "the record of 199.09p will almost certainly be surpassed over the weekend", as Labour's conference gets underway - with average prices now just 0.4p per litre short of that milestone.
Reports from Sky News indicate the UK had just 42 days of diesel remaining as of July, the lowest figure amongst developed nations, with the exception of Australia.
Back in March, when the conflict first erupted, a Labour Treasury minister declined to rule out petrol rationing in response to the crisis. Government plans drawn up by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero under its National Emergency Plan for Fuel outline precisely how rationing would operate in practice, should it be introduced.
Emergency measures outlined
With diesel prices set to break records amid supply concerns, the contingency plans by government could theoretically be used for diesel in future. These plans include priority filling for emergency services and public transport and temporary speed limit reductions down to 50mph.
Louisa James, Political Correspondent at ITV's Good Morning Britain, said back in March: "As you would expect the government has emergency plans in place which will be activated in the event of a severe disruption.
"Those are published online and they include things like petrol rationing, giving emergency services and public transport priority for fuel. Also reportedly a temporary 50mph speed limit to reduce demand for fuel."
The National Emergency Plan for Fuel says: "The majority of potential fuel supply disruptions can be addressed by measures to help industry maintain fuel supply; these would be deployed by DESNZ in co-ordination with industry and other government departments."
However, the government does have emergency powers under the Energy Act 1976, which it can use to control supply and demand of petroleum products. It should be noted that use of these emergency powers is reserved for the most severe of disruptions.
"These measures would only be activated in the event of a severe national fuel supply shortage."
Activation criteria
The National Emergency Plan for Fuel (NEP-F) document details when such measures could be activated: "Only when an incident has the potential to cause significant and widespread disruption to oil supply will government consider activating measures within the NEP-F."
The decision to activate the measures in the NEP-F can only be taken at a national level and would be led by DESNZ, as the government department responsible for energy resilience.
"Local Resilience Fora and relevant organisations providing essential services are expected to have robust business continuity plans in place that take into account of their own local and organisational context. Business continuity plans should align in principle to the NEP-F but not rely on early activation of the NEP-F measures."
A DESNZ spokesperson said: "We have a diverse and resilient supply. We continue to engage with our international partners and the UK fuel industry."
