Australia has sufficient fuel stocks to last into May and has received assurances from key southeast Asian suppliers, ministers said.
Australia has secured legally binding fuel supplies well into May, energy minister Chris Bowen said on 6 April, after previously indicating uncertainty around supplies at the end of April. He added that he would not over-promise regarding availability in the months ahead.
Assistant trade minister Matt Thistlethwaite told Sky News on 5 April that he had discussed supply and received assurances from key import partners such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore on continued shipments. A total of 50 ships carrying fuel will arrive in Australia over the next month and the country is diversifying its suppliers, including the US, he added.
Australia had 39 days' worth of gasoline, 30 days' worth of jet fuel and 29 days' worth of gasoil as of 31 March, minimum stockholding obligation data show. Gasoline and gasoil stocks were unchanged from the previous week, while jet fuel stocks were one day lower.
In New Zealand, weekly stockholding increased to 61.9 days' worth of gasoline, 50.1 days' worth of jet fuel as of 1 April from 29 March. But gasoil stocks decreased by about one day. This includes vessels carrying fuel en route to New Zealand.
