-- Australia will spend AU$10 billion ($7.24 billion) to expand fuel security measures and establish its first government-owned fuel reserve, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday.
"This will support an overall expansion of Australia's onshore fuel reserves to ensure at least 50 days of fuel supply," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a press conference.
Albanese said the plan includes AU$3.2 billion to build a permanent reserve that will store around 1 billion liters of diesel and aviation fuel.
"This is aimed at making sure that Australians can have more confidence in protecting our energy sovereignty, not just during this crisis, but going forward as well," Albanese added.
A separate AU$7.5 billion facility will support fuel and fertilizer supply and storage through loans, guarantees, insurance, equity funding, and price support measures, Albanese said.
Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the government is expanding minimum stockholding obligations for the private sector by 10 days as part of a broader fuel security overhaul aimed at ensuring Australia holds 50 days' worth of diesel and jet fuel reserves.
Bowen said Australia remains among the few International Energy Agency members without a government-owned fuel reserve and called the current environment "the worst international fuel crisis in history."
"In April, we received 92 shiploads of fuel, which is the highest number this year," Bowen said, adding that monthly deliveries previously remained below 80 shipments.