Australia’s diesel stocks have increased to the equivalent of 34 days of consumption, up from 31 days a week earlier, amid continued uncertainty and disruptions in international fuel supply chains, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said on Saturday at a press conference in Canberra.
Bowen noted that aviation fuel stocks were now at 29 days of consumption, an increase of one day from the prior week. He also cited that 43 ships were currently carrying fuel to Australia, while 3.1 billion litres of fuel had been secured for delivery over the next four weeks—100 million litres more than had been committed a week earlier.
"Australia’s fuel supply remains ‘solid and secure’ despite continued uncertainty in global supply chains, including disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours," Bowen said.
The minister added that he had seen reports that four oil tankers had caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the Australian government was working with domestic refineries to maintain production and negotiating with trading partners in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere to secure supplies.
The statement comes as the global shipping environment faces heightened risks. The Strait of Hormuz remains a strategically important waterway for oil transit, and disruptions there can ripple across energy markets worldwide. Australia's government has underscored that the current stock levels provide a cushion against such disturbances.
Domestic refineries have been called upon to keep production steady, ensuring that the surge in stocks does not cause a supply shortfall. By securing additional fuel, the government aims to support the country’s reliance on diesel for transport, industry and aviation sectors, and to safeguard public confidence in energy availability.
Throughout the briefing, Bowen emphasized that the replenishment of fuel stocks is part of a broader strategy to sustain energy security in the face of global supply uncertainties.