1.
TRACKING SHOT Line of cars, empty, waiting for petrol.
0.12

2.
GV Cars moving past queue waiting for petrol.
0.15

3.
TRACKING SHOT Taxis lining-up waiting for petrol at 'taxis only' station.
0.28

4.
GV Taxis waiting for petrol with drivers.
0.33

5.
GV & SV Taxis and drivers waiting for petrol at pumps. (3 SHOTS)
0.48

6.
GV & SV Private cars parked around filling station. (3 SHOTS)
1.01

7.
SV PULL BACK TO GV Petrol pumps. (2 SHOTS)
1.11

8.
GV Filling station with cars parked nearby. (2 SHOTS)
1.21




Initials JS





Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: INTRODUCTION: The economic situation in Poland has led to shortages of most raw materials, including petrol. The free trade union, Solidarity, has been complaining about shortages which necessitate long queues to buy staple foodstuffs. The queues for petrol are now as long, and government officials recently announced price increases that include fuel and other basic necessities.

SYNOPSIS: Motorists in Warsaw leave their cars outside petrol stations before dawn, to await delivery of fuel. The Polish government is expecting a critical shortfall of petrol and other commodities in the coming winter.

Poland has taxis-only filling stations, but the queues formed there are as long as at ordinary petrol stations. Some taxi-drivers wait all night with no certainty of obtaining petrol. Earlier in the year, the Polish government suspended about 3,000 local bus services to save energy. Poland's oil refining fell by nearly 20 per cent last year and the shortage of petrol has seen longer and longer queues outside the capital's filling stations.

The Polish government has called for a joint commission with the trade unions to deal with problems of market supplies, price increases and rationing. The announcement coincided with panic buying of petrol in Warsaw, and reports that there would be further rises in the price of staple products soon. The price of petrol has risen dramatically. There is the further worry that the Soviet Union will reduce oil exports to Poland, which will push prices even higher.