European regulators are to establish an entity to track production and stock levels of fuel for transport, which will allow potential shortages to be identified quickly.
The “fuel observatory” is part of a package of measures from the European Commission, which is seeking to reduce the European Union’s dependence on imported fossil fuel, and shield it from external disruption.
It states that it will “step up” co-ordination on fuel distribution optimisation through the EU, adding that the observatory will track fuel production in the EU, along with import, export and stocks of transport fuel.
This activity is aimed at ensuring sufficient availability.
By detecting risks of shortage, says the Commission, the observatory will provide information to enable “targeted measures” to maintain balanced distribution of fuel across airports.
It adds that it will also provide “clarity on existing flexibilities” within the EU aviation framework to address the consequences of flight cancellations.
“There are no fuel shortages in the EU at the present moment,” assured Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova at a 20 April briefing.
“Flights around Europe, and from European airports mainly, would be able to take off.”
She says the EU has “significant capacity” to refine oil and produce jet fuel, but also acknowledges that the availability of such fuel “is a priority”.
The Commission also says it is committed to spurring the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels produced within the EU.
It states that the observatory will support efforts to ensure the transport sector is “competitive and resilient”.
“The current geopolitical situation is a stark reminder that accelerating the transition to clean, secure and affordable energy is an economic and security imperative,” it adds.
Establishment of the observatory is among several energy schemes being presented under an initiative designated ‘AccelerateEU’.
They follow an urgent request from the European Council on 19 March to present a “toolbox” of temporary measures to deal with spikes in imported fuel prices arising from the Middle East crisis.
Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says the strategy will mean the EU is “better able to weather geopolitical storms”.
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