Europe fuel protests grow, pumps run dry
Copyright 2000, Reuters
September 12, 2000
Truckers protesting against fuel prices blockaded highways across Western Europe today, with Britain poised to invoke emergency powers to stop panic at the pumps from paralyzing hospitals and schools.
Truckers furious at high prices and taxes promised more wildcat action as world oil prices edged higher despite an OPEC pledge to increase production.
Dutch truckers staged wildcat blockades to stop traffic on motorways around Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Later, about 60 taxi drivers forced a traffic slowdown on motorways around Amsterdam.
In London, petrol pumps ran dry after panic buying swept Britain. In the worst hit areas, rubbish went uncollected and hospitals cancelled non-emergency services.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair pulled out of a tour of northern England and rushed back to London to consider invoking emergency measures.
"Legitimate protest is one thing," a spokeswoman for Blair said. "But we have to look at the disruption that is now being caused."
Britons pay more for their petrol than other Europeans, squeezed by hefty fuel taxes and oil prices hitting a near 10-year high.
Paradoxically, Britain is a big oil producer itself and the government has made windfall gains from high crude prices.
By noon today, the big operators said about half of Britain's 13,000 filling stations were now dry.
Shares in UK supermarkets fell on fears the retail sector would be next hit, while emergency services rang alarm bells about everything from blood supplies to firefighting.
The emergency powers, which could be invoked as early as today, would aim to ensure that hospitals, schools and other vital services have enough fuel to keep working. Oil companies could be directed to keep supplies flowing to the most needy.
"This is by far the worst crisis we've had in 25 years. The government has to step in immediately," said a motoring organization, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC).
It predicted London would run out of petrol by the end of the day.
Protests were likely in Germany, Spain and Ireland.
Germans protest against green fuel tax plan
German truckers threatened to disrupt the country's transport network from Thursday. In Hamburg, farmers said they would join the transport and taxi strike to press the government to cut diesel taxes and postpone an ecological tax on fuel.
German police said that already about 100 trucks were joined by bus and taxi drivers on Tuesday for a convoy that began near the French border on the western edge of the town of Saarbruecken for a noon protest rally.
Belgian truckers began a third day of blockades, vowing to stay put for weeks unless the government met their demands.
The blockade of key streets leading to Brussels' historic center widened, with haulers sealing off another main route into the capital. Blockades were also set up in the southern cities of Charleroi and Nivelles.
"One week, 15 days, three weeks — no problem," said trucker Jean Bury.Asked if he was angry, he said, "It's worse than that. We've absolutely had it."
Irish lorry drivers vowed to take action from Friday if their demands were not met.
Angry Spanish farmers today were planning a series of protests after talks with the Madrid government failed to reach a deal on how to compensate for swelling transport costs.
Road blockades which crippled France last week had all but ended today after the government reached deals on tax cuts over the past few days with truck owners, taxi and ambulance drivers.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries decided on Sunday to raise output by 800,000 barrels per day, but so far the decision has failed to steady high oil prices.
The price of OPEC's basket of seven crudes rose on Monday to $32.45 a barrel from $32.37 on Friday, the OPEC news agency said today.