(Reuters) – Gasoline stations running dry in Britain. In the European Union, power prices are rising ahead of winter. China implemented energy restrictions. And rising prices for oil, and coal.

If these events led you to believe that the entire world was suddenly suffering from a severe energy crisis, then it would be easy for you to forgive yourself. You would be mostly right, however.

Although the impact of the severe supply shortages on consumers and businesses is immediate, there are less commonalities than you might think.

The common thread is a general rebound in energy consumption from the levels reached at the bottom of the coronavirus pandemic, which raised the prices of oil and gas. There are also ongoing restrictions by OPEC oil cartel oil cartel. Additionally, fuel distribution has become complicated due to global transportation bottlenecks.

The list of things that separate them is much longer. This may be because the disruptions could have more to do local policies and regional dynamics rather than an overall shortage in global energy supplies.

This week, oil prices reached $80 per barrel for the first-time in three years. Natural gas and coal have also hit multi-year highs. Next week, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allied countries will be meeting to discuss whether or not to release their excess production capacity in order to lower prices.

Here is a brief summary of what is disrupting energy markets in Britain, Europe and China:

CHINA CRUNCH

China’s government has begun rationing electricity to energy-hungry businesses because of a crunch in coal supply. Beijing controls power prices. This means that coal plants in China have had to shut down because they are unable or unwilling to pay higher costs for coal.

According to Goldman Sachs (NYSE :), 44% of China’s industrial activities have been affected by power cuts, and this could impact its GDP.

China Electricity Council (NYSE:) said Monday that the coal-fired power plants were “expanding [their procurement channels] at all costs” to ensure winter heat and power supplies.

But coal traders have said finding fresh import sources may be easier said than done, with Russia focusing on serving Europe’s power needs, rains interrupting output from Indonesia, and trucking constraints hindering imports from Mongolia.

EUROPE’S POWER BILLS

The price of keeping the lights on in Spain has tripled, reflecting a broader spike up in power bills across the European Union in recent weeks. Fears of an unfavorable winter have been raised by the rising cost of electricity. This is due to increased demand for heat from households and a rise in seasonal consumption.

The reason for the rising costs in Europe is a confluence of local factors, ranging from low natural gas stockpiles and overseas shipments, lackluster output from the region’s windmills and solar farms, and maintenance work that has put nuclear generators and other plants offline.

Although demand will rise over the next few months and weeks, the timing of this is not ideal. However, the restart of Nord Stream 2’s gas pipeline between Russia and Germany and power plant maintenance could help to ease the markets.

Spain, Italy Greece, Britain, and others have begun to plan national measures that range from price caps to subsidies. These are designed to help citizens avoid rising costs while economies recover from COVID-19.

UK PETROL STATIONS RUN DRY

Panic-buying by motorists has left fuel pumps dry across major cities in Britain in one of the worst energy disruptions facing the country in decades. As the government called for calm, fights broke out at fuel stations.

But the problem wracking Britain is not a lack of gasoline, it is a lack of truckers to distribute the fuel from refineries to retailers – one of the odd side-effects of Britain’s exit from the European Union, and a hangover from postponed trucker certification and training during the pandemic.

What’s the solution? Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government has been issuing temporary visas to thousands of foreign truck drivers to get fuel to market, has put the army on standby to help out, and hopes to restore order at the pumps before the holidays.