LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) – It seems like every day another well-known company or brand announces a wave of business closings. The tough economic times are affecting the entire country, including here in South Louisiana and East Texas.

Having fewer options for refueling is especially frustrating given the recent spike in gasoline prices. Gas prices are reportedly set to continue rising throughout the spring, leaving drivers in Louisiana and Texas with fewer choices and higher costs at the pump.

Recently, a gas station chain announced the closure of numerous branches across the country, which could have an impact on your driving behavior.

Shell is the second largest gas station chain in Texas (with 1,587 stations in 382 cities) and the third largest gas station chain in Louisiana (with 319 locations in 124 cities).

Since there are over 12,000 Shell gas stations in the U.S., the planned closures represent a significant reduction in available gas stations. While it is unclear exactly which stations will be closed, the scale of these closures suggests that Louisiana and Texas could be affected.

When a gas station closes, it has several negative effects on consumers. First, the number of gas stations decreases, which could force people to drive further to find another gas station. This can be both inconvenient and lead to higher fuel costs due to the extra miles driven. Fewer gas stations also mean less competition, potentially driving up prices at the remaining locations because consumers have fewer choices.

Additionally, with fewer gas stations, longer lines and wait times at the pump could become more common, especially during peak hours. For people in rural areas, the loss of a nearby gas station could make it harder to access fuel, which could affect their ability to work, shop or access emergency services.

Parent company Shell announced a few months ago that it would close a number of sites, sending shockwaves through the energy industry. The company announced that it would close 500 petrol stations in 2024 and the other 500 in 2025.

“We expect oil demand growth to slow in the second half of this decade and may begin to decline in the 2030s due to increasing vehicle efficiency and growth in electric vehicles,” the company said in a recent report. “There are around 40 million such vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs) on the roads today, and up to 275 million are expected by 2030. The availability of charging stations will be critical to electric vehicle growth.”

Overall, the closure of a petrol station results in limited options, higher prices and longer wait times. It can also create accessibility issues for consumers, which in turn impacts their convenience and potentially leads to higher costs and travel difficulties.