Petrol stations in Australia are reporting a surge in demand of up to 25 percent in the past fortnight, on top of earlier spikes caused by the Iran war.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under pressure to devise a national plan to protect Australia against what is being called the “biggest energy crisis in history.”
The Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association has revealed the scale of the demand on retailers, leaving hundreds of stations across the country without one or more types of fuel.
The Association’s Chief Executive Rowan Lee said fuel retailers have reported an increase in demand of up to 25 percent over the past two weeks, following a significant earlier spike.
Australians can expect high fuel costs to persist long after the Iran war ends.
Lee says people are filling up more frequently, and parts of the agriculture, freight, and commercial sectors brought forward their fuel purchases, adding to short-term demand.
He adds that when a station runs out of a particular grade of fuel, it is usually only temporary and often resolved within two days.
The Prime Minister is expected to meet with premiers and Chief Ministers tomorrow to work out a plan to manage the fuel crisis. The federal government expects months-long disruptions even if the Iran conflict ends immediately.
While fuel rationing is not currently being considered, voluntary measures could be encouraged if the situation worsens, such as working from home where possible.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has indicated that rationing would only be considered under a “worst-case scenario,” in which prolonged conflict in the Middle East severely restricts the supply of oil to refineries in Asia, and in turn, petrol and diesel supply to Australia.
Source: The Guardian
