Fuel Shortages Return To China - Long Lines For Gasoline, Diesel In Very Short Supply - MSNBC

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SHANGHAI, China - China’s leaders are facing renewed pressure over shortfalls in diesel and gasoline, with lines growing at filling stations in major cities Monday as the gap widens between international crude oil values and centrally controlled fuel prices.

The shortages, first reported in southern and inland China, appeared to be spreading to the wealthier areas in the north and east as filling stations struggled to get shipments from refiners. Four stations contacted Monday in Shanghai said their daily diesel shipments had not yet arrived.

“You could try your luck later in the day. Now, we have no diesel available at all,” said a staffer at a filling station in the city’s eastern Pudong district. “I can’t promise you anything, though, for once it comes, it will soon run out,” said the station attendant, who would not give his name because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Staff at another filling station said they were on duty round the clock, waiting for diesel shipments.

In Beijing, which until now appeared to be relatively sheltered from such problems, staff at 20 filling stations said that due to the shortages they were not selling diesel or were rationing how much customers could buy. Shanghai authorities were downplaying the shortages and urging drivers to remain calm and not hoard fuel. The city, China’s commercial center and a key trade transport hub, has enough diesel to last more than 10 days, the municipal Economic Commission said in a statement seen Monday on its Web site.

EDIT

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23776742/

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1. simple solution ... charge the going world price n.t