A Transport minister has given an update as diesel prices surge.
People should not worry about diesel shortages, the Government has said (Image: Getty)
People should not worry about diesel shortages, the Government has said, as prices skyrocket. Transport minister Keir Mather insisted Britain’s supply of diesel was “robust” and “resilient”. His comments today came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said European countries should “immediately” begin to use their reserves. Earlier on Thursday, US President Donald Trump had said he “may” call for European countries to draw down from their reserves.
Britain joined crisis talks with Brussels on Thursday on whether to release fuel stocks amid soaring prices. Mr Mather told Sky News: “I want to reassure people this morning that the United Kingdom has got a diverse range of supply when it comes to diesel. We have resilience built into our system for that reason.”
“We are working very closely with our US counterparts to stress the importance of that relationship, and the importance of sustaining flows of diesel around the world, but also working through international fora in the International Energy Agency and partners in Europe from whom we get a proportion of our diesel imports as well.”
He added: “Although prices have gone up at the pump, the Government is aware of that and the freeze in fuel duty is still in place.
“People shouldn’t be concerned about shortages because of the inherent resilience that is built into that system.”
It comes as the average price of a litre of diesel in the UK has passed £2 for the first time.
A litre now costs an average of 200.01p, up from 199.79p on Thursday, the RAC said yesterday [FRI].
Prices have risen steadily in recent weeks and reached a new record high on Monday, surpassing the previous peak set in June 2022 in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The UK, as a member of the International Energy Agency, is required to keep oil stocks equal to at least 90 days of net oil imports in reserve.
It is thought these can be used to respond to severe supply disruptions in the global market.