Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen have announced four extra shiploads of diesel have been secured for Australia. Photo: PM Facebook.
Australia has secured four extra shiploads of diesel to bolster the nation’s supplies until early June.
The 200 million litres of fuel will come from South Korea, Brunei and Malaysia, through deals struck under the Federal Government’s new Strategic Reserve powers.
The government has partnered with BP Australia and continued its partnership with Viva Energy, taking the total additional diesel secured in the past seven days to about 300 million litres – or more than 1.8 million barrels.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said work was continuing with Ampol, Park Fuels, IOR and other fuel suppliers to secure even more fuel shipments in coming days and weeks.
“As conflict in the Middle East and global volatility continues, we are working to shield Australians from the worst of the impacts,” the PM said on Wednesday (22 April).
“We want to keep our people, our economy and our nation moving, which is why we’re working with industry to quickly secure additional shipments of fuel and fertiliser.
“I think Australians know, they see it on their TV every night, that we’re in a very volatile environment, there are different announcements each and every day and sometimes across just a number of hours about what is going on in the Middle East.
“We can’t control all of that, because we’re not participants in that conflict. What we can control is how we respond, and we’re responding by throwing … everything at supply, to make a difference.”
Energy Minister Chris Bowen said there were also 61 regular shiploads of fuel on the water at the moment and already on their way to Australia.
He said the extra supply was an added buffer and would be largely directed to the regions.
The four new cargoes, being underwritten by the government, will go to ports in Brisbane, Sydney, Geelong and Perth.
“By providing support to secure approximately 300 million litres of diesel, together with existing contracted supply that’s flowing to Australia, we are securing the essential fuel supplies for the regions and industries that need it,” the Minister said.
Mr Bowen spoke with his state and territory counterparts on Tuesday night, ahead of recommendations over domestic fuel distribution being taken to National Cabinet on Thursday.
The government is also working with fertiliser companies Incitec Pivot and CSBP to help secure and deliver more essential fertiliser for Australian farmers.
That package involves price risk support to protect importers from extreme price volatility and ensure additional fertiliser arrives in Australia for the current and upcoming growing seasons.
It comes after an extra 250,000 tonnes of agricultural-grade urea was secured last week for Australian farmers in a fertiliser deal struck with the Indonesian Government.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the extra fertiliser shipments would be a significant outcome for farmers, with deals in line to support industry to secure and deliver it as soon as possible.
“We understand how critical fertiliser is for Australian farmers, for our food production system and the food security of our region,” she said.
“That’s why I have been working with industry to support getting fertiliser to Australian farmers.”
The announcements come as uncertainty grows over the Middle East war.
With the Strait of Hormuz still blocked, US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran just as it was about to expire.
The extension, he said, would be in place until Tehran presents a “unified proposal” to move peace negotiations forward.
The planned second round of peace talks in Pakistan, however, seem to be falling over.
Iran has not confirmed if it will join the talks, and the US has cancelled Vice President JD Vance’s scheduled trip to Islamabad while Tehran decides what it plans to do about them.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
