Petrol and diesel come from the same crude oil barrel. But refineries are like picky chefs. They prefer making petrol. Why? Because petrol is easier to make and sells in huge volumes.
Diesel is a fussy product. It needs higher temperatures and more complex cracking. Think of it as the artisan bread of fuels. And in the UK, we don’t bake enough of it ourselves.
We lost a ton of refinery capacity in the last decade. Fewer refineries mean less diesel supply. When supply goes down, the price goes up. Simple economics, but frustrating at the pump.
The Cold, Hard Truth About Winter
You know what’s funny? Winter. In cold months, diesel gets thick. It can turn into a jelly-like goo. To stop your car from dying, refineries add special winter additives.
This costs money. And they don’t offer a discount for summer. So you pay extra all year round just so your diesel doesn’t freeze in December. Brilliant, right?
Petrol prices dropping too slowly, says watchdog - BBC News
Also, Europe is addicted to diesel. About 50% of cars there run on the stuff. The UK is stuck on the same pipe. Global demand for diesel is ravenous, which keeps prices high for our little island.
