UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering activating the army to respond to the worsening fuel crisis
Under considerations, soldiers would be deployed to deliver fuel to service stations across Britain, after panic buying of petrol left stations running dry.
The emergency plan is expected to be considered by the Prime Minister this week.
Johnson is set to gather senior members of his cabinet to discuss the activation of “Operation Escalin” after BP confirmed that a third of its fuel stations have now run out of two grades of fuel.
The UK Fuel Association has admitted that 50-90 per cent of their members have reported having run out of fuel.
But is the army the answer?
Ministers are confident the petrol shortage will be solved before it needs to order the Army to help with deliveries.
Government sources played down the prospect of any immediate decisions being made on the Army being brought in to help drive petrol tankers to deliver much-needed fuel, stating soldiers would first need to be trained on how to respond to the situation.
The fuel industry has assured motorists it expects the panic-buying of petrol and diesel to wind down, saying “there is plenty of fuel”.
In a joint statement, fuel firms also called for drivers to stop panic buying and provided reassurance that demand will return to normal in the next few days
The statement stated that:“There is plenty of fuel at UK refineries and terminals, and as an industry we are working closely with the government to help ensure fuel is available to be delivered to stations across the country.”
“As many cars are now holding more fuel than usual, we expect that demand will return to its normal levels in the coming days, easing pressures on fuel station forecourts. We would encourage everyone to buy fuel as they usually would.
“We remain enormously grateful to all forecourt staff and HGV drivers for working tirelessly to maintain supplies during this time.”
Company eyes new credit and shares to survive as strikes and delays weigh the company down
Boeing is taking drastic steps to secure its future, seeking to raise at least $10 billion by selling new shares and securing a fresh credit line.
The iconic manufacturer has been struggling this year with major setbacks, including a 737 MAX mishap in January and a machinist strike that halted production.
In filings made Tuesday, Boeing revealed plans to issue up to $25 billion in shares or debt over the next three years while locking in a $10 billion credit deal.
Sources say the company will aim to raise around $10 billion from its upcoming stock offering.
Boeing called the moves “prudent steps” to ensure access to liquidity as it faces growing financial challenges.
Its stock, which began the year at $250, rose 2% to about $152 after the announcement, as analysts expressed relief over Boeing’s efforts to stabilize its cash flow.
The machinist strike, which started last month, has intensified the company’s cash problems, with Boeing burning through $1 billion per month before the walkout.
Boeing hasn’t posted a profit since 2018, and the coming months will be critical as it battles to recover.
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