Hundreds of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion protestors block entrances to seven oil terminals

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Hundreds of eco activists from Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil today blocked ten major oil terminals across England in a mass protest amid demands that the Government stops new oil and gas projects.

The activists said that scores of people were sitting in the road to block oil tankers from leaving each site, while others climbed on top of oil tankers – including over 30 young people at an oil terminal in Grays, Essex.

Seven of the ten protests were carried out by Just Stop Oil at Navigator Terminals Thames, Inter Terminals UK and Purfleet Fuels Terminal all in Grays; Buncefield Oil Depot in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; Esso Petroleum in Tyburn, Birmingham; and Kingsbury Oil Terminal and BP Oil Depot, both in Tamworth, Staffordshire.

The further three were organised by Extinction Rebellion demonstrators at the Esso West Terminal near London Heathrow Airport, Hamble Terminals in Southampton and Hythe Terminal in Fawley, Hampshire.

Just Stop Oil – which has been responsible for protests at football matches in recent weeks where activists have tied themselves to goalposts – tweeted: ‘Fed up with a government burning your future? Join us on the road.’ 

On top of fuel prices at the pumps reaching record levels thanks in part to the war in Ukraine – petrol and diesel could become scarce if the group succeeds in stopping tankers leaving to refuel petrol stations across the UK. 

And it comes on the day that households across Britain are seeing the biggest rise in the cost of energy in living memory as average bills on the price cap increase by 54 per cent, or almost £700, to just under £2,000 a year. 

The group wants an end to the Government’s ‘policy of expanding UK oil and gas production and is calling on all those outraged at the prospect of climate collapse and suffering from the cost of living crisis to stand with us’.

A statement added: ‘Ordinary people can no longer afford oil and gas, it’s time to Just Stop Oil. It’s funding war and killing people in the global south, while destroying the future for young people everywhere.’

Essex Police said six people had been arrested. A spokesman added: ‘We are currently dealing with three incidents in Thurrock, where a group of people are reportedly blocking the roads. Six people have been arrested so far. It is impacting Navigator Fuel Centre, Esso in Purfleet, and Askew Farm Lane. Drivers are asked to avoid the area.’

West Midlands Police responded to the Birmingham protest, saying that they were ‘working to deal with this as quickly as possible’. The force said delays were expected on Wood Lane, Bromford Lane and Tyburn Road.

West Midlands Fire Service crews were also in attendance and said those travelling were asked to ‘avoid the area if possible’, adding that staff were ‘available to support our colleagues at West Midlands Police, if needed’.

Exxon Mobil UK, one of the country’s largest privately owned underground oil pipeline distribution networks, confirmed demonstrations were underway at some of its sites, causing operations to be temporarily suspended.

It said: ‘Small protests are currently underway outside our Hythe, Birmingham and West London fuel terminals.’ While we respect the right to peaceful protest, our priority is the safety of our people, our neighbours, the protestors and our operations. We are working with the police to ensure that safety is maintained.’

The firm – whose head offices are in Leatherhead, Surrey – said it had temporarily suspended operations at the locations mentioned, but its other terminals at Purfleet in Essex and Avonmouth near Bristol were not affected.

Demonstrations are expected across the UK in the coming days over the cost-of-living crisis. The ‘People’s Assembly’ expects thousands of protesters will take to the streets tomorrow at various locations to highlight those suffering ‘real hardships’ due to the combination of rising fuel and food prices, inflation, and low pay.

On March 8, Extinction Rebellion had warned it planned to block major UK oil refineries in April and said it would ‘flood London’ with people from April 9 amid claims ‘we will create the most roadblocks we ever have’.

The direct action group said it intended to ‘stop the harm at the source’ as part of its campaign to force the Government to stop the fossil fuel economy.

There are six major oil refineries in the UK, supplying about 85 per cent of UK fuel demand, including Petroineos’s Grangemouth in Scotland, the Lindsey refinery on the Humber and Exxon’s Fawley in Hampshire. Only the Fawley site was being targeted by Extinction Rebellion today.

A Just Stop Oil spokesman said: ‘The action comes amid a series of cascading crises, the war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis and news that climate breakdown is happening much faster than expected.

‘However, while these events should prompt an emergency response to reduce UK dependence on oil and gas, the Government is doubling down on drilling for new oil and gas.

‘Right now ordinary people are being made to pay, while the government wastes £230million a week subsidising the oil industry and energy companies make huge profits. There must be no more increases in fuel or heating costs. Fossil fuel companies and the richest must pay.

‘The cost of living crisis is not going to end, but we can insulate ourselves from higher fuel prices by getting off oil and gas. No new oil, reduce demand and invest in renewables.

‘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 stand up and take action. It’s 2022 and the time to stand by has passed.’