Xinhua reports that Australia’s diesel stocks rose to the equivalent of 34 days of consumption, an increase from 31 days a week earlier, according to Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen at a press conference in Canberra on Saturday. Japan’s reports indicate that 43 ships carrying fuel are currently on their way to Australia, and 3.1 billion liters of fuel have been secured for delivery over the next four weeks, 100 million liters more than in the previous week’s update. Bowen told reporters that Australia’s fuel supply remained "solid and secure" despite continued uncertainty in global supply chains, including recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
In the same briefing, Bowen noted that aviation fuel stocks stood at 29 days, up one day from the prior week. He said the government was working with domestic refineries to maintain production and with trading partners in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere to secure supplies. Xinhua highlights the continuous uncertainties in the region and the difficulties in moving fuel through the strategic waterway.
The announcement comes after reports that four oil tankers caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours, an incident that has contributed to global fuel supply anxieties. Bowen added that he had seen the reports of the incident, adding that Australia had been facing uncertainty in the region and challenges in moving fuel through the waterway. Xinhua’s coverage places the incident in the broader context of supply chain disruptions that could affect energy markets worldwide.
While the minister stresses that the country’s fuel supply remains solid, Xinhua also notes the broader global picture, where multiple disruptions—including logistical bottlenecks and geopolitical tensions—have influenced the flow of fuels. Bowen reassured that the Japanese product, goods “are still advancing.