The low water levels of the rivers mess up transport chains in Germany. Because of the low water on the Rhine, for example, in the case of gasoline and Diesel to supply shortages increase, causing the prices to the gas stations. In some cases, these had to discontinue the sale of gasoline or Diesel, said Stephen Zieger, Executive Director of the national Federation of independent filling stations (BFT). Also companies such as Thyssenkrupp and BASF, were temporarily forced to restrict production.
“In the tank, not in camps along the Rhine have enough fuel, because the tank only half or even less gasoline and Diesel ships can transport,” said a spokesman of the filling station operator Aral. The transport capacity of the ships was to the car just to replace a part due to load. Holiday driving bans for Trucks on reformation day and all saints day would have complicated the Situation. Which gas station to meet it, don’t be predictable, said BFT-managing Director, Zieger.
The shortages have also led to rising petrol and diesel prices. The price for a litre of petrol increased from the beginning to the end of October in the national average of 1.34 euros to 1.42 euros. Super petrol increased in the same period from EUR 1.49 to 1.53 euros per Liter. The crude oil prices fell in October, actually, a Barrel of crude oil (159 litres) of North sea Brent oil fell by eleven percent to the equivalent of 66,40 euros. Also, the prices of oil remain high. As the reason for the high prices, experts and industry associations, the consequences of the drought.
The persistent drought since the spring, the water levels of the rivers in Germany continues to decline. Especially in the Rhine and its tributaries play an important role in supplying Germany with Oil and other raw materials. On the river, major refineries, where the finished products via inland waterways to storage tanks to be transported. Only there, the switch to Rail or road.
National Oil reserve released
The economy Ministry had released in October, parts of the national Oil reserve along the Rhine. The stocks of 70,000 tons of gasoline, and 150,000 tons of Diesel and 56,000 tonnes of kerosene were offered to the member companies of the petroleum stockpiling Association (EBV). The oil companies decide for themselves whether they want to lose weight the quantities. The EBV was established during the oil crisis in the 1970s, to a possible interruption in the Oil supply cushion. He holds enough crude oil and oil products to Germany for 90 days supply a total of around 24 million tonnes.
The group, Thyssenkrupp had not received in October, sufficient raw materials for its Duisburg steel mill, and therefore, a customer with a state of emergency declared. At the beginning of November, the company said, to drive the steel production in the face of rising water levels of the Rhine and organize the normalization of the supply relationships. Also, the chemical company BASF had to adjust in October, the production in Ludwigshafen, Germany, as the plant could only be to a few ships. Normally, BASF promoted in Ludwigshafen, Germany, 40 per cent of goods by inland waterway.
The mineral oil trade Association, also called the Explosion in a refinery in the Bavarian town Vohburg on the Danube in September as a reason for gaps in provision. The loss of production, worsening the Situation in southern Germany, a spokesman said. The release of fuel from the petroleum reserve have led to any radical improvement. A sweeping relaxation in the supply of it will give only in the event of rising water levels.