Swiss supply of petrol and diesel is now available again through normal channels. The Cressier refinery in the canton of Neuchâtel has resumed production following a technical stoppage of approximately two weeks. Therefore, no further withdrawals from mandatory reserves are currently required.
Despite this, the situation remains somewhat tense. The low water level of the Rhine continues to limit how much cargo an inland vessel can carry. Less cargo per trip means more journeys, higher costs, and reduced available capacity. Rail transport and the product pipeline from France to Geneva cannot fully replace a major outage in the short term.
From 8 to 20 September, the federal government permitted withdrawal of up to 30,000 cubic meters of petrol and the same amount of diesel. The full quantity of petrol was withdrawn, while approximately two-thirds of diesel was taken. Both maximum quantities remained below three percent of the respective mandatory reserves. The withdrawn quantities must be replenished within six months.
For transport operators, price and availability trends are of particular importance. The federal government reports no general supply shortage. Regional bottlenecks, longer procurement routes, or higher surcharges are possible if low water levels persist. Dispatchers should monitor fuel tank levels, delivery times, and diesel price adjustment clauses more closely.