China News Service, September 27, reported that the UK’s “supply chain crisis” has intensified in recent days. The shortage of truck drivers has affected domestic fuel distribution and led to panic buying.

At the European level, the energy crisis is said to be difficult to contain, and some analysts claim that the energy crisis that started in Europe is spreading to the United States.

So, will the European energy crisis evolve into a global crisis?

Suppliers warn that fuel shortages may further aggravate due to the lack of transportation drivers.

The picture is a screenshot of Al Jazeera's report.

Shortage of fuel drivers triggers panic buying

Long queues outside UK gas stations

　　Recently, there has been such a scene in some parts of the UK: After the oil company reported that the lack of drivers had caused transportation problems, there was a long queue of vehicles outside the gas station, and some vehicles even had to wait for several hours to fill up.

Some businesses have to take turns to supply gas, while others are forced to close gas stations.

　　BP issued a statement on the 26th, stating: "Demand has been tight in the past two days. We estimate that about 30% of gas stations are currently unable to provide two main grades of oil. We are working hard and hope to resume supply as soon as possible."

　　According to the report, the UK is currently facing many crises, including soaring international oil prices leading to the suspension of energy companies, the shortage of carbon dioxide supply threatening to affect meat production, and the lack of truck drivers to disrupt retailers, and some shelves are therefore empty.

　　In particular, the shortage of truck drivers has affected the distribution of fuel in the UK and has led to panic buying, despite the British government's guarantee that fuel stocks are "sufficient".

The picture shows cars lining up outside the Berkshire gas station.

Image source: Screenshot of "Financial Times" report.

The European energy crisis spread to the United States?

Will it evolve into a global crisis?

　　Al Jazeera’s Chinese network believes that in a globalized world, the European-level energy crisis is difficult to contain, especially in the context of damage to the supply chain and eager reduction of fossil fuel investment.

　　The report quoted a report published on the "Oil Price" website as an analysis that earlier this month, "the energy crisis that started in Europe is now spreading to the United States."

　　There are also reports showing that in July 2020, US coke exports fell by as much as 20.3% compared with June. The epidemic has caused many industries to lack capital and manpower, so supply is limited.

　　The analysis pointed out that this is good news for US fossil fuel producers, but as winter approaches, it may turn into bad news.

Earlier this week, the US "Wall Street Journal" stated that high energy prices may pose an impending crisis for the United States.

　　Data show that this season's replenishment inventory is lower than normal, and the gas storage at the beginning of September was 7.4% lower than the average level of the past five years.

Coal inventories have also decreased due to increased exports, and thermal coal prices have tripled from a year ago.

According to data from the Energy Information Administration, by the end of the year, US coal inventories may fall to less than half of the 2020 inventory level.

　　According to the report, developments in Europe can be seen as a prelude to what may happen in the United States, because the United States is more independent in the energy sector than the United Kingdom.

However, the increase in export rates has raised concerns, which require government intervention to allow natural gas producers to reduce exports.

　　As a sign of the scale of the crisis, the American Industrial Energy Consumers Association asked the Department of Energy to restrict the export of liquefied natural gas to avoid rising prices and shortages of natural gas during the winter.