Australia’s Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, announced on Saturday that the country has extended the temporary relaxation of fuel quality standards until September, as it faces the impact of the Iran war on its fuel supplies.
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Bowen said in televised remarks: “I have decided to extend the allowance for higher sulfur levels in petrol in Australia.”
The relaxation measure, first announced in March, increases the permitted sulfur content in fuel to 50 parts per million, up from the usual 10 parts per million.
Australia, which imports most of its fuel, has experienced domestic shortages due to supply chain disruptions caused by the conflict, now in its eighth week.
Bowen noted that production of diesel, jet fuel, and petrol at an oil refinery affected by a fire—owned by Viva Energy in the state of Victoria, the country’s second most populous state—remained unchanged from Friday.
He said: “The Geelong refinery is operating at 80% of its capacity for diesel and jet fuel, and 60% of its petrol production capacity, and the situation remains the same.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that the fire would not result in any fuel restrictions.
Albanese also reached an agreement this week with Malaysia’s state energy company Petronas to supply Australia with surplus fuel, following visits to Singapore and Brunei aimed at strengthening energy supplies.
Reuters
