Australia's Some Regions Face Fuel Shortage, Government Urges Public Not to Panic or Hoard Oil

On the 22nd, the Australian government stated that although the country’s fuel imports have been affected by the Iran conflict, supplies remain sufficient, and there are no plans for rationing. Regarding the petrol shortages in some areas, the government urged the public to fuel up rationally.

Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said in a television interview that as of the 21st, the country’s reserves of gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel are enough for 38, 30, and 30 days respectively, and fuel supplies remain “robust.”

Bowen said, “Although we are currently facing an uncertain situation, we still have two refineries operating at full capacity.” When asked whether the government is considering implementing fuel rationing, he replied, “We are far from that point.”

According to Reuters, 90% of Australia’s fuel supply relies on imports, mostly from the Asia-Pacific region. After the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran in late February, the vital Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil shipping route, nearly came to a halt, disrupting crude oil supplies. The downstream oil industry chain, including refining, was also affected. Six fuel transport ships scheduled to arrive in Australia next month have had their voyages canceled or postponed.

Some remote rural areas in Australia are experiencing “fuel shortages,” leading to queues and panic buying. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on the public to consume fuel rationally and avoid panic buying.

Last week, Albanese tasked the former head of the National Energy Regulator, Anzia Harris, to lead a special task force to address fuel shortages in certain regions and optimize the domestic supply chain.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)