Spain guarantees fuels supply during lockdown

The Spanish government has said it will intervene in fuel networks and requisition property if needed to prevent supply disruptions during a national lockdown to battle the spread of coronavirus.

It said it will also ensure that liquids bulk traffic and marine fuels supply is not affected by restrictions on cruise ships and other passenger vessels in place at the country's ports.

The government declared a state of emergency at the weekend and called on citizens to leave their homes as little as possible for an initial period of 15 days in an attempt to contain the virus. With nearly 8,000 infections and almost 300 deaths, Spain is Europe's second-worst hit country after Italy.

The nationwide lockdown began at 08:00 local time today and covers all travel except journeys to and from work, trips to buy food and medicines, as well as visits to banks, medical centres and to care for the elderly and infirm. Schools, restaurants and most other businesses have been closed to the public and employees have been ordered to work from home whenever possible.

Police and the army have been deployed to enforce the restrictions on travel and social gatherings and will close roads and impose fines and other penalties for unauthorised movements.

Although supply and distribution of road, aviation and marine fuels should be little affected by the state of emergency, demand is likely to drop sharply as the government has ordered all private transport companies to cut services by at least half and flights between Spain and about 100 countries have been banned.

Spain appeared well-stocked for fuels at the last count on the 31 January, with oil product inventories up by 500,000t on the month at 11mn t, the highest level since March 2019.

Spanish diesel deliveries were flat last month compared with January at 494,000 b/d, while gasoline and kerosine deliveries increased by around 9pc and by 1pc on the month to 91,000 b/d and 97,000 b/d respectively, according to fuel logistics company CLH. The firm handles over 75pc of the road and aviation fuels consumed in Spain.

By Jonathan Gleave

source: Argus Media