Pumps running dry, especially in rural locations, is something that happens occasionally, even without pressure on global oil prices, but there is no doubt the war is impacting the fuel market.
While there isn’t any nationwide shortage of petrol or diesel, there are localised challenges with some retailers struggling to get deliveries.
Some local shortages are also due to consumer demand.
As prices continue to rise, motorists are quick to take advantage of any retailer offering a lower price for fuel.
Petrol stations selling fuel for cheaper than average could see a boom in trade – effectively drinking those pumps dry until their next delivery.
Anecdotal reports that some petrol stations linked to supermarkets had been slower to raise fuel prices, may explain why forecourts at Sainsbury’s and Tesco temporarily closed some pumps over the weekend.
A source with knowledge of the UK wholesale fuel market told BBC News NI that there was still sufficient supply available for retailers to purchase, but added that it was a question for supermarkets as to why they haven’t done so.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s, who still have several pumps closed at locations across Northern Ireland, has rejected any suggestion that the retailer wasn’t trying to buy all available supply.
The company said it expects its forecourts to be fully restocked later this week.
One Tesco forecourt in Belfast, which had struggled with supply over the weekend, has reopened this morning. A spokesperson said the company still had good availability of all fuel grades, with regular deliveries to all fuel stations.