One of the Biggest Gas Station Chains in Louisiana and Texas is Closing 1000 Locations

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) - It seems like every day, another familiar company or brand announces a wave of closures. Tough economic times are affecting the entire country, including right here in south Louisiana and eastern Texas.

With a recent surge in gas prices, having fewer options for filling up is especially frustrating. Reports suggest that gas prices will continue to rise as spring progresses, leaving drivers in Louisiana and Texas with fewer choices and higher costs at the pump.

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Recently, one gas station chain announced that it would be closing a lot of stores across the country, and that could definitely have an impact on your drive.

Shell is the No. 2 gas station chain in Texas (with 1,587 stations in 382 cities) and the No. 3 gas station chain in Louisiana (with 319 locations across 124 cities).

With over 12,000 Shell stations across the U.S., the planned closures represent a significant reduction in available fueling locations. While it's unclear which specific stations will shut down, the scale of these closures suggests that Louisiana and Texas could be affected.

When a gas station closes, it has several negative impacts on consumers. First, it reduces the number of places to buy fuel, which might force people to drive farther to find another station. This can be both inconvenient and lead to higher fuel costs due to the extra mileage. Fewer stations also mean less competition, potentially driving up prices at the remaining locations as consumers have fewer choices.

Moreover, with fewer stations, longer lines and wait times at the pump could become more common, especially during peak hours. For those in rural areas, the loss of a nearby gas station could make it difficult to access fuel, impacting their ability to commute, run errands, or respond to emergencies.

Parent company Shell made the announcement several months ago that it was closing a number of locations, sending shockwaves across the energy industry. The company said it will close 500 stations in 2024 and the other 500 in 2025.

"We believe growth in oil demand is set to slow in the second half of this decade and could start falling in the 2030s because of increasing vehicle efficiency and growth in electric vehicles," the company stated in a recent report. "Today there are around 40 million such vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs) on the roads, with up to 275 million expected by 2030. The availability of charging points will be critical for the growth in electric vehicles."

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Overall, the closure of a gas station limits options increases prices, lengthens wait times, and can create accessibility challenges for consumers, impacting their convenience and potentially increasing their costs and travel difficulties.