War in Iran could hinder supply

of diesel to rural areas

Parts of rural England may be more susceptible to diesel shortages if the current conflict in the Middle East continues.

That is the assessment of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which included the forecast as part of its recently published report, Economic Outlook.

It states that, along with reduced economic growth, countries like the UK may experience shortfalls in the supply of key energy products.

The report, which can be viewed online, reads: “…localised shortages of diesel could weigh on activity, especially in rural areas.”

It’s thought that rural communities may be more vulnerable because agriculture, haulage and other predominantly rural-based industries are highly dependent on diesel-powered vehicles and machinery.

The report also claims that similar issues with the flow of jet fuel to the UK could have a severe impact on the tourism and pharmaceutical sectors, both of which rely heavily on aviation.

ACRE remains in regular contact with officials at Defra and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero about how the war in Iran is impacting rural communities, particularly in relation to the cost and supply of fuel, such as heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).