Laois filling stations say they are ‘back to normal’ following fuel shortages

The blockades of fuel refineries and major national routes during the nationwide fuel protests saw many Laois filling stations run out of their supply.

Following the dissolution of protests and blockades at the M7’s J17 in Portlaoise after six days, many filling stations locally have reported that their levels and operations are ‘back to normal’.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live spoke with filling stations across the county to hear of their experience, and their fuel levels.

The Maxol filling station in Portarlington ran out of diesel on Friday, and are back to normal now.

“Our levels at the minute are all good, we got a delivery over the weekend,” a representative told us.

“We did run out on Friday, but we got back going on Sunday, we had unleaded all weekend. We didn’t have to cap it per customer or ration it. Our fuel levels are okay, we are all good and back to normal deliveries,” they said.

The filling stations said that they do not have any concerns related to future deliveries this week.

Portlaoise Plaza at J17, directly next to the Portlaoise protesters, ran out of stock on Friday.

“We maybe had an issue on Friday when we ran out, we have a healthy stock of fuel now. We didn’t have to operate with any caps, we were fortunate in a way that we are a little bit out of the town, which might’ve been what helped us,” a representative told us.

“We got a delivery on Saturday and we are alright at the minute, we have a healthy flowing stock with no issues,” they said.

A delay in a delivery over the weekend brought concern to the business, but they were relieved to receive their stock a day later.

“We were concerned over the weekend as we were supposed to get our delivery on Friday and it was pushed back to Saturday, so there was a bit of worry there. They managed to get our delivery to us in the end, our stock is good,” they said.

The Gandon Inn Circle K in Emo are also operating at suitable levels.

“At the moment we are okay, we got a delivery last Saturday. We don’t know yet when our next delivery will be, we are still waiting for news from Circle K,” a representative said.

The business was fortunate to not have to operate on a fuel cap per customer.

“We ran out on Friday evening and got a delivery on Saturday night,” they said.

“We are just sitting waiting for more news and hoping to get through to the next delivery. Our levels are okay at the minute,” they said.

The Corrib Oil filling station in Mountmellick is happy with their fuel levels, and continues to operate with fuel caps in place.

“Our levels are grand at the minute,” a representative said.

“We are still capped at €50 per customer and don’t know whether this will change in the next few days, but it’s been fine. Everyone is happy with it. We don’t think we’ll have issues with deliveries of fuel, they’re just giving bits here and there. It was a bit of hassle over the weekend but it has all quietened down now, our levels are grand,” they said.

Downey’s Texaco in Portlaoise are happy with their fuel levels, having received a fuel delivery on Monday morning.

“We just received a delivery, we have no problems. We are not operating with any cap. We are not anticipating any issues with deliveries of fuel this coming week,” a representative said.

Ballacolla’s Manor Stone Circle K service station said that their fuel levels are ‘okay’.

While many have reported that their levels are fine, Inver in Portarlington say they are out of both petrol and diesel since Saturday morning.

“We ran out on Saturday evening and we had only got a delivery on Thursday, then everybody was in to get fuel,” a representative said. 

“We have been without it since then and are just waiting, we are supposed to get it today, we think it will be tomorrow. We are still open, we have a full deli and full shop,” they said.