Extra fuel shipments secured through the Albanese government’s underwriting scheme will transport 100 million litres of jet fuel and 50 million litres of diesel to major cities across Australia.
Three new cargoes will head to Brisbane, Perth and Darwin and are in addition to the eight shipments already announced in partnership with BP Australia, Ampol, and Viva Energy.
The latter are due to reach Australia in May and June.
The newly secured shipments are designed to keep “FIFO workers flying, our truckers driving and the nation moving”, Trade Minister Don Farrell said in a statement.
“It gives Australians the peace of mind they need to travel and see their loved ones and to keep exploring our vast and beautiful country,” he said.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the extra shipments were “proof” of the government successfully working to “strengthen our fuel supply chain in partnership with industry”.
“This support for approximately 100 million litres of jet fuels shows the government is acting now to ensure continued essential fuel supplies,” he said.
Export Finance Australia is continuing discussions with businesses who ship and distribute fertiliser and expects more shipments under these agreements in “coming days and weeks”.
Anthony Albanese said the government was “working day and night, here and abroad, to shield Australians from the worst of the impacts of a war on the other side of the world”.
“We have now secured more than 450 million litres of additional diesel and 100 million litres of additional jet fuel to keep Australia moving,” the Prime Minister said.
“In the face of global instability, we are leaving no stone unturned as we work to keep Australia moving, working and flying.”
Aus-Korea strike energy security deal
Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed Australia had signed a joint statement on energy security overnight with Korea, one of the nation’s key suppliers of diesel and refined petroleum products.
She said the deal “reaffirmed our shared commitment to open markets and rules-based trade to address unjustified import and export restrictions and to support open trade arrangements for energy and for liquid fuels”.
The two countries have also established a mechanism to notify each other of trade disruptions.
Senator Wong’s visit to Korea was part of a larger fuel diplomacy blitz in Asia to shore up Australia’s fuel supply.
“The purpose of the engagement is because energy security is shared, and we know that the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the impact of the conflict in the Middle East is being felt by people across this region,” Senator Wong said.
“It is felt disproportionately across our region, and we know that the best way to manage that is to ensure we work together to provide each other with a reliable supply of energy and we work together to manage the disruption.
“That is Australia’s intent, to shore up energy security for Australia and also in the region.”
More to come
