EXCLUSIVE
MELBOURNE, VIC. — Several service stations, known in Australia as ‘servos’ aren’t just charging more at the bowser. Many servos now have no fuel to sell anyway as fuel wholesalers begin rationing petrol and diesel supplies across Australia.
United Petroleum has told its customers that it had suspended normal fuel distribution allocations “across all locations effective immediately,” citing uncertainty in global oil markets and potential disruptions to oil tanker shipping routes.
In a note to customers, United Petroleum’s head of supply and trading, Brett Crawford, said the move was a precautionary step while the company assessed its fuel inventories and incoming cargo schedules.
An Oom service station, located on Plenty Road, Reservoir and attended this morning by VicNews, has no 91, 95 or 98 RON unleaded or diesel, only ‘some’ e10 and LPG. The service station attendant, who did not wish to be named, said that “it was so boring now, but at least I still have a job.”
“We don’t even know when our next delivery will be … my boss can’t even find out when or if we’ll get our next delivery, but we do have some e10 left.
“I just hope that when we run out of e10 too, that we stay open so I can keep my job.”
Other service stations in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, whilst having some fuel, are also low on supplies, with many service stations only having some fuel types available. One service station may have only 95 unleaded left, and a nearby service station only has diesel left.
Australian Institute of Petroleum chief executive Malcom Roberts said the industry had observed a sharp increase in fuel purchases.
“In isolated cases, retail sites have been depleted,” Mr Roberts said.
