BP has been forced into closing a number of petrol stations across the UK amid the ongoing shortage of HGV drivers.

The driver shortage crisis has affected business across the UK including major supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s with shelves half full and grocers forced to increase salaries and introduce signing on bonuses to fill gaps.

The HGV driver shortage has now hit the oil giant with deliveries of petrol and diesel to forecourts across the UK set to be reduced to ensure supplies do not run out.

BP call on government for support

BP told the Government in a meeting last Thursday that last the company’s ability to transport fuel from refineries to its network of forecourts was faltering.

BP’s head of UK retail Hanna Hofer said it was important the Government understood the “urgency of the situation”, which she described as “bad, very bad”, according to a report by ITV News.

According to ITV News, Ms Hofer said BP had “two-thirds of normal forecourt stock levels required for smooth operations” and the level is “declining rapidly”.

It is unclear how soon deliveries could be restricted but fuel will not be restocked for one and a half days a week “very soon”.

Motorways will be prioritised an stocked as normal according to reports.

BP issue statement on fuel delivery shortage

The company hopes the fuel shortages will be temporary and can be rebuilt in October.

BP said in a statement: “We are experiencing fuel supply issues at some of our retail sites in the UK and unfortunately have therefore seen a handful of sites temporarily close due to a lack of both unleaded and diesel grades.

“These have been caused by delays in the supply chain, which has been impacted by industry-wide driver shortages across the UK, and we are working hard to address this issue.

“We continue to work with our haulier supplier to minimise disruption and to ensure efficient and effective deliveries to serve our customers. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”