Why are Fuel Prices so High?

[This was published in a local newsletter "Caversham Bridge", but given the current fuel price increases, I thought it might be helpful to post it here, not only for the residents of Caversham, but everyone].

The price of fuel has rocketed, with UK national petrol and diesel averaging 158p and 191p a litre, their highest for several years. This is a knock-on effect of the war in the Middle East, and specifically the chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil normally transits onto global markets. Due to consequent supply restrictions, the price of oil has soared to well above $100 a barrel. Since petrol and diesel are made from oil, their costs are impacted directly, with a $10 increase in oil pushing fuel prices up by around 7p per litre at the pump.


Tips for saving on money and fuel.

Shop Around: Typically, supermarket prices are among the lowest and motorway service areas the highest. Websites, such as petrolprices.com, can help find the cheapest fuel in your area, as prices often vary between different stations. Nonetheless, panic-buying fuel makes the overall situation worse.

Drive Efficiently: avoid abrupt braking and rapid acceleration, maintain a steady speed and shift gears earlier (in manual cars) – this can improve fuel economy by up to 10–30%.

Reduce Speed: Speeds of around 45–55 mph (where safe) often provide the optimum fuel efficiency.

Good Vehicle Practice: Keep tyres correctly inflated, curb unnecessary weight (e.g., empty the boot), and remove roof racks when not needed.

Combine Trips: Since a cold engine is less efficient than a warm one, combine several short trips into one.

Do Without a Car: Use public transport, carpool with neighbours and workmates, or walk/cycle wherever possible.

Work from Home: As far as is feasible, reduce commuting to minimise fuel use.


The Future.

While hoping fervently that the present situation will soon be resolved, oil will not last forever. Eventually, it will become increasingly more expensive and less available, so the present situation may provide a foretaste of what to expect, and how best to deal with this.

The idea of Transition Towns arose in anticipation of “peak oil”, which is where oil production reaches a maximum and then declines. A society with less oil will necessarily become more locally based, building more supportive, and self-sufficient communities, far less vulnerable to external shocks.

Undoubtedly, we face many interconnected and systemic challenges, but all essential efforts toward re-localisation and community resilience may provide the strongest available single buffer against the many storms that are likely to prevail upon us.

Strait of Hormuz Chokehold Released for Now, but Global Supply Chains Remain at Risk.

                 

                                    Satellite image of the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump has suspended his threatened bombing of Iran for two weeks, subject to the safe repassage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. One can only feel a sense of relief that last night’s worst horrors of utter destruction did not materialise, but wonder where matters will go from here?

The importance of this channel cannot be underestimated, since it is the conduit for 20% each of the world’s traded oil and gas. It is also the gateway for one third of the world’s agricultural fertilizers, 30% of its helium (used to cool the magnets of MRI scanners and in data centres, and for electronics manufacturing) and 50% of global sulphur, which is converted to sulphuric acid, essential for the extraction of copper, cobalt, and phosphate rock – the latter, again, for fertilizers.

Aluminium, petrochemicals, plastics and pharmaceuticals also pass through the strait, and for Gulf countries, it is a critical portal for imported food, upon which there is a high dependency.

The name derives from Hormoz, which is a Middle Persian expression of Ahura Mazda – the Zoroastrian deity of wisdom, light, and cosmic order. However, in this terrestrial and mortal realm, order is profoundly under threat of fracture.

Trump has given credit for this abeyance of military onslaught to Pakistan, who have steadfastly offered their hand to broker peace in the region. Pakistan is also a key member of a new four-nation alliance, along with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, and a nuclear power.

Even were the strait to remain open, full flow of energy and materials will take considerable time to recover, along with the knock-on effects from damage to refineries and pipelines. A further issue is the massive insurance costs for ships passing through the region. Should a lengthy interruption ensue, the global consequences are likely to be catastrophic. It is noteworthy that some analysts do not predict a "mass exodus" of ships through the strait, which will still require permission from the Iranians to make the transit.

Against this backdrop, and a chilling prospect that “A whole civilization will die”, I was profoundly moved by the Easter messages from the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury, in each case their first, both calling for peace in the Middle East. In his address to thousands in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Pope Leo told them: “Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace,” while, in Canterbury Cathedral, Dame Sarah Mullally pressed for an “end [to] violence and destruction”. 

At a time of the National Emergency Briefing, it is clear that the world must focus on cooperation and harmony, if we are to deal with the climate and nature crisis - not fight to the bitter end for what is left of the Earth’s resources.

"The Energy and Climate Conundrum," talk by Prof. Chris Rhodes, on April 28th (2026), 7-9 pm, Zero Degrees Reading.

Oil runs the world, as we see from the present Chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. I shall be speaking at Reading Cafe Scientifique in Zero Degrees bar, on Tuesday, April 28th, at 7pm: "The Energy and Climate Conundrum".

"The Energy and Climate Conundrum."


Short Blurb:

Crude oil is the backbone of modern industrial civilisation, underpinning most of its transportation, supply chains, manufacturing, and agriculture.

82% of the primary energy used by humans on Earth is from fossil fuels, but our increasing use of all oil, gas and coal, is driving a relentlessly changing climate.

While our energy sources must be decarbonised, this alone will not solve the fundamental problem, which is that the human species is in ecological overshoot.

A systemic solution is required, to bring about a consolidated amelioration of climate change, biodiversity loss, and relentless degradation of the ecosphere.

But, how might we bring about the changes necessary to build a thriving, sustainable, future civilisation?"

Speaker Bio:

Professor Chris Rhodes is Director of the independent consultancy, Fresh-lands Environmental Actions, and a Board member of Scientists Warning Europe. He became a full professor in physical chemistry in his early 30s, and was awarded a Higher Doctorate (DSc) by the University of Sussex. 

Chris is a scientific advisor to the European Commission and the governments of many nations. He has published more than 260 peer reviewed academic papers, which have received around 25,000 citations, along with an extensive online collection of essays and journalism.

He is ranked by Stanford University as being in the top 0.04% of World Scientists. 

Chris is also Chair of Transition Town Reading, and author of the black comedy novel ‘University Shambles’, and an award-winning children’s picture book, ‘Hippy the Happy Hippopotamus’, which has been described as a modern day "eco-parable". He is also a published poet.