The protesters from the climate campaign group 'Just Stop Oil' shut down terminals at ExxonMobil UK, one of the country’s largest privately owned underground oil pipeline distribution networks, at the weekend.
The climate activists are demanding that the UK Government stops new oil and gas projects.
ExxonMobil UK said it shut down three of its terminals as a result, and police from at least five forces were deployed to tackle the demonstrations.
Police officers from the Protester Removal Team work to free a Just Stop Oil activist who is part of a blockade at the Titan Truck Park in Grays, Essex. Picture date: Saturday April 2, 2022.
Stefan Rousseau
Climate activists obstructed 10 fuel sites in the Midlands and southern England in the early hours of Friday, to stand against “expanding UK oil and gas production”.
Police officers from the Protester Removal Team work to free a Just Stop Oil activist who is part of a blockade at the Titan Truck Park in Grays, Essex. Picture date: Saturday April 2, 2022.
Stefan Rousseau
Protesters were glued on to roads, suspended on bamboo tripods, and locked on to oil drums and each other from around 4am.
Motorists reported petrol shortages in Folkestone, Dover and Gillingham, in Kent.
"If you are travelling down to Kent, Dover, Folkestone, Cheriton area, many of the petrol stations have no fuel today", one Twitter user revealed.
Simon Williams of the RAC, said: “We are aware that protests on Friday and Saturday at 10 fuel terminals in the South East and Midlands caused some disruption to planned deliveries."
"This included tanker drivers being prevented from leaving terminals to deliver fuel to forecourts and some damage to vehicles and property."
"We understand that operations are now back to normal which will mean forecourts will receive new supplies very soon," he explained.
Insulate Britain, which has connections with Just Stop Oil, said: "It seems like the pumps are going dry. This could end immediately if Downing Street got on with the job and did what was right at this time in history."