Fuel shortage crisis in islands 22/12/13
Fuel is being rationed at some filling stations across Uist and Benbecula due to problems in getting supplies onto the islands.
Some huge storage tanks at Scottish Fuel’s Lochcarnan sea port depot are out of use for repairs and the present run of gales scuppers the fall-back measure of sending road tankers across by ferry.
Creagorry Motors filling station on Benbecula ran dry while others are limiting supplies to motorists.
Some huge storage tanks at Scottish Fuel’s Lochcarnan sea port depot are out of use and need repairs while bad weather often scuppers the fall-back measure of sending road tankers across by ferry.
Pumps are only getting irregular, piecemeal deliveries of scarce fuel.
Neil Macdonald of Creagorry Motors said the firm’s Balivanich filling station ran out one day recently. Latest supplies have not been enough as fuel is “running low again.”
Stephen Macaulay of Hillside Filling Station in Lochboisdale is rationing diesel for lorries.
He welcomed Scottish Fuels making a delivery on Saturday though it was “only a fraction” of what they need and will only keep them going until Tuesday.
A Scottish Fuels spokesperson said: “We are experiencing a temporary problem supplying our Loch Carnan depot due to the very poor weather and the fact that a number of tanks at the depot are out of commission due to essential maintenance work.
“We are doing everything we can to rectify the problem and, weather permitting, we expect to have fresh supplies at Loch Carnan from Stornoway and the mainland in the coming days.”