If there are gas shortages in the UK...

[slor]

when will we see them here? Why is it that they are running out, and we have not? Is it due to the release of parts of the strategic reserves?

[htuttle]

1. We don't have shortages now because...

1) We're drawing from the SPR.
2) We invoked emergency clauses in the IEA agreements to get European members to sell oil from their emergency reserves on the world markets. I wouldn't be surprised if that has something to do with shortages in the UK, too (boy, they'll LOVE to hear that, eh?).
http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/02/news/spr/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050902/bs_afp/usweatherieaaidoil_050902200006

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Some gas stations in the UK ran out because of panic buying

It was due to a 'protest', heavily publicised in advance, by road hauliers and farmers, who want the government to cut fuel tax. In practice, hardly any of them turned up to the refineries, and no tankers were stopped from coming out.

But certain irresponsible newspapers (step forward the Mail, and the Express) had come up with headlines like "Fill up while you can", invoking the memory of the protest in 2000 (which actually did stop tankers leaving the refineries), and the more foolish Brits had queued to buy their week's petrol on one day. This meant some stations ran out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4249020.stm