Just Stop Oil blocks critical oil facilities for the third day in a row demanding an end to new oil and gas

For the third day in a row, supporters of Just Stop Oil have disrupted oil supplies from 7 critical oil facilities near London and Birmingham in support of their demand to the UK government to end new oil and gas projects in the UK.

Early this morning people climbed on and blocked oil tankers at 5 critical oil terminals. A few have entered the loading bay at Buncefield oil terminal in Hertfordshire and are standing on oil tankers holding banners.

At Kingsbury, Midlands and Esso terminals in Birmingham oil tankers have been prevented from leaving by people sitting in the road. At Thames Oilport in Essex, 17 people have climbed or locked onto a tanker to prevent it from leaving.

The tunnellers who have disrupted the entrances to Navigator and Grays terminals in Thurrock, Essex since Friday remain in situ. Police have allowed trucks to pass overhead, which is a dangerously unsafe practice.

There have been over 200 arrests since Friday.

In the face of the worst cost of living crisis in a generation and looming catastrophe of climate breakdown, Just Stop Oil is calling on the UK government to get a grip and implement an emergency programme to reduce our reliance on oil and gas through insulation, renewables and free public transport. 

Neil Rothnie, 69, a retired offshore oil and gas worker from Glasgow said:

“The oil and gas industry has one priority and it is not the climate crisis.  It’s not the future of North Sea oil and gas workers. And it’s certainly not whether the poor can stay warm. Their plan is to produce every barrel of oil and gas under the North Sea, and if they have to trash the climate and the economy and destroy our lives – so be it. It’s called “business as usual”.  The government needs to get a grip, get out of bed with the oil industry and Just Stop Oil.”

Stephanie Pride 52, a counter assistant from Scarborough said:

“This situation is only going to get worse until we collectively reduce our energy consumption and make the switch to renewables. Unfortunately, that’s very hard when those of us who don’t drive are punished in the jobs market for not being able to afford or access decent public transport to where the jobs are.”

Alex Heard, 25, a science teacher from Norwich said:

“I’m taking action because I’m terrified of the future my students, my friends, my family and particularly my younger brother will have to endure if we do not end our dependence on fossil fuels. If we do not act with urgency climate collapse becomes inevitable, and within the next 10-20 years we will face catastrophic change beyond our comprehension. Perhaps most alarming is that because most people are deliberately kept in the dark about the impending disaster we face, we carry on as usual, sleepwalking our way to disaster. “

The Just Stop Oil Coalition is calling on all of those whose futures are being destroyed, who are facing poverty and who are outraged at the prospect of continuing our dependence on fossil fuels to step up and take action, join our daily zoom calls at 7pm. It’s 2022 and the time to stand by has passed.

ENDS

Press contact:    07762 987334

Email: ​​​​​​​[email protected]

High quality photos and video footage available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Dgcuv5vJjzfdSrdpX6HJEaayoidc08xy?usp=sharing

Website: https://juststopoil.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JustStopOil/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/just.stopoil/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustStop_Oil

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-t4U1Azf8AOkCBJILSNBmw

Notes to Editors

[1] Locations

  • Inter Terminals UK Ltd, London Rd, Grays RM17 6YU
  • Navigator terminals Thames, Oliver Rd, West Thurrock, Grays, RM20 3ED
  • Buncefield Oil Depot, Hemel Hempstead HP2 7HZ
  • Esso Petroleum Co Ltd, Wood Lane, Birmingham B24 8DN
  • Kingsbury Oil Terminal, Tamworth, B78 2HA
  • BP Oil Depot, Kingsbury, Tamworth B78 2EF
  • Thames Oil Port, Stanford-le-hope, Essex

[2] About Just Stop Oil

Just Stop Oil is a coalition of groups working together to demand that the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK.

We must urgently end our reliance on fossil fuels to avoid irreversible changes in the earth’s climate system. We cannot continue to burn fossil fuels in the belief that future developments in carbon capture and storage and other so-called “unicorn technologies” will allow us to suck vast quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

The UK must begin this process immediately. It starts by calling a halt to any further fossil fuel projects on the UK Continental Shelf. That would give us eight years of fossil fuel production left in which to rapidly transition to a zero carbon economy.

Everyone knows we have to engage in massive changes. Just Stop Oil is a coalition of groups demanding the no-brainer things be done immediately – actions that will reduce the demand for fossil fuel energy dramatically such as insulating our homes, rethinking how we travel, getting on with renewable energy and making sure no-one is left behind. 

We either come together as humanity or we die. Youth know which they choose. They have already chosen. They are in the streets to demand a future. We are all in the streets to make sure they get it. It’s as basic as that.

Further information about Just Stop Oil and our demands here: https://www.juststopoil.org