SYDNEY: Australia's fuel supply remains strong and there are no immediate plans to ration fuel to manage the impact of the Iran war on the nation's supply chain, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said on Sunday (March 22).
Australia, which imports about 90 per cent of its fuel, has experienced localised shortages as the escalating US-Israeli war disrupts supply.
The nation has 38 days' worth of petrol and 30 days of diesel and jet fuel, Bowen said in televised remarks, citing data from Saturday. Supply remains strong despite the cancellation of six fuel shipments from Asia, he said.
"While we are dealing with an uncertainty, we still have two refineries working full pelt. It would be better if we had more, sure, but we do have two, and we also have the boats continuing to arrive," he said.
Asked about whether the centre-left government would consider using emergency powers to ration fuel, Bowen said, "We're a long way from that".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese again urged Australians not to panic-buy fuel amid shortages in some rural areas.
"People need to engage responsibly, and I'm sure that overwhelmingly that's what Australians will do," Albanese said, according to an official transcript.
Albanese said last week his government would roll out additional measures to safeguard fuel supply, appointing Anthea Harris, the former boss of the Australian Energy Regulator, as head of a national fuel supply task force to tackle shortages and improve the domestic fuel supply chain. - Reuters
