Michael Shanks has strongly advised motorists to maintain their usual driving habits, rejecting rising calls to conserve petrol and diesel amid rising prices linked to the ongoing conflict between the United States, led by Donald Trump, and Iran.
In an extensive interview with Times Radio, Shanks dismissed the suggestions put forth by the International Energy Agency (IEA), which proposed various measures to curb fuel consumption.
These measures included recommendations for people to work remotely when possible and lowering speed limits by 10 km/h to reduce fuel use.
Shanks’ comments come in the context of significant disruptions in the global oil supply chain, particularly following Iran’s recent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
This critical maritime passage accounts for a considerable portion of the world’s oil shipments.
Despite the turmoil in international oil markets, Shanks confidently asserted, “There is no shortage of fuel anywhere in the country at the moment,” suggesting that the current spike in prices is not indicative of a supply crisis.
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This assertion comes as Slovenia has become the first European Union member state to implement fuel rationing measures, highlighting the varying responses to the situation across countries.
Shanks said: “We monitor this every single day, I look at the numbers personally. There’s no issue at all with that.”
In a message to motorists, he said there is no need to panic buy petrol, he added: “People should go about their business as normal. That’s what the RAC and the AA have said. It’s really important that people do that.
“There’s no shortage of fuel, and everything is working as normal.”
Asked whether drivers need to slow down, Shanks told Times Radio: “Look genuinely, people shouldn’t change their behaviour or their habits in the slightest.
On Tuesday, oil prices surged again amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict, with Brent crude climbing above $100 per barrel before settling at around $102 per barrel (£76.15).
This increase has raised the average petrol price to 144.16p per litre, up from 131.71p before the US launched strikes on Iran. Filling a typical 55-litre diesel family car now costs an additional £14.63, and further increases are anticipated.
Analysts warn that the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies pass, could lead to an unprecedented price spike if disruptions persist.
