As a child of the 1970s, I vividly remember waiting in gas lines during the 1974 Arab Oil Embargo – in my Dad’s car – and during the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis induced gasoline shortage. That second time was when I was in my second year at the Naval Academy and I was living about 40 miles away from my new girlfriend. She was worth the wait – we have been married since 1981.
Recently, fears over rising international oil prices have resulted in Chinese oil dealers hoarding their reserves and in drivers filling up more frequently than normal. Those two actions plus limitations in the existing distribution system’s ability to handle the growth in automobiles has contributed to a number of long lines at gasoline and diesel filling stations in southern China. More recent reports indicate that the phenomenon is spreading into the northern regions. You can see a photo along with the story at China seeks to ease fuel-supply concerns.
