Australia relaxes fuel stockpile rules as Energy Minister assures motorists petrol won’t run out
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has announced millions of litres of diesel and petrol will be released from Australia’s onshore fuel stockpile to deal with concerns from the Middle East crisis.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has announced millions of litres of diesel and petrol will be released from Australia’s onshore fuel stockpile to deal with concerns from the Middle East crisis but has assured motorists supplies won’t run out.
The Albanese government says the “minimum stock obligation” for diesel will reduce from 2.7 billion litres to 2.2 billion litres, and from a billion litres to 700 million litres for petrol in round terms.
“This will enable fuel companies to more flexibly manage their supply chain. Now this fuel will not be released immediately,” Mr Bowen said while insisting it was a “sensible, well calibrated response from the government”.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.When pressed repeatedly over whether Australia was in danger of running out of fuel, Minister Bowen noted international circumstances were “uncertain” and said people shouldn’t pretend to know “exactly how the next few weeks are going to play out”.
“I think the sort of inflammatory ‘running out’ language - we are nowhere near that. We have minimum stock obligations in place. I’ve announced a sensible calibration today of those. Eighty percent of it remains for future needs, if necessary.”
“I’ve announced a sensible, calibrated relaxation of stockpiles to enable companies to better manage their supply chain. I’m asking them to send more fuel to regional Australia. In order for them to do that, it’s sensible to relax the rules a little bit”.
On three occasions the energy minister ruled out introducing petrol rationing when pressed on whether he was considering the extreme measure to deal with the crisis.
Minister Bowen also lashed out at “un-Australian” individuals who he accused of hoarding fuel and then trying to sell it online at inflated prices.
“I ask Australians buy as much fuel as you need, no more, no less. There are other people, I’ve seen it on Facebook marketplace, filling up jerry cans, Bunnings running out of jerry cans, selling fuel at inflated prices.”
“That is un-Australian. It’s dangerous. It shouldn’t be done now. We shouldn’t lump everybody in, (that’s) clearly a minority of people doing that”.
