Australia has secured 100 million litres of diesel—equivalent to roughly a single day’s national consumption—as part of a broader push to shore up fuel security amid a worsening Middle East conflict. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the deal, involving two shipments from Brunei and South Korea, under new Strategic Reserve powers during a visit to Malaysia on April 16, 2026.
The purchase, totaling 570,000 barrels, was facilitated through a partnership between Export Finance Australia (EFA) and Viva Energy, the operator of a Geelong refinery that suffered a damaging fire on April 15. Albanese, who fast-tracked his return from Kuala Lumpur to meet with Viva Energy officials on April 17, described the refinery blaze as distressing but noted no injuries occurred. He acknowledged the incident would “clearly” disrupt fuel supply, pledging to work with the company to restore operations swiftly.
Under the new laws passed in March 2026, the government assumes financial risk for fuel shipments deemed too costly for private suppliers to procure independently. EFA has also finalized commercial terms with Ampol, Park Fuels, and IOR to address regional shortages and critical supply gaps, ensuring additional fuel reaches farmers, remote communities, and essential services.
“This agreement strengthens Australia’s fuel security by ensuring additional cargoes are delivered to the domestic market when and where they are needed most,” Albanese said.
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The diesel shipments are the first of many expected under the Strategic Reserve framework, a response to global energy supply shocks triggered by the Middle East conflict. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, speaking alongside Albanese, highlighted the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for nearly seven weeks as a key driver of market stress. Malaysia, which supplies 14% of Australia’s diesel, 10% of its petrol, and 11% of its jet fuel, agreed to an energy trade pact on a “no surprises basis” during the talks.
This marks the third such agreement Albanese has secured with Asian nations in under a week, following similar deals with Brunei and Singapore. Australia, a major exporter of liquefied natural gas, wheat, lamb, and beef to the region, leveraged its trade importance to lock in these guarantees. Nearly 60% of Malaysia’s wheat and 75% of its lamb and beef originate from Australian farms.
Minister for Trade Don Farrell emphasized the broader scope of the Strategic Reserve powers, which extend beyond fuel to include fertilizers and other vital goods impacted by the conflict. The government’s intervention aims to mitigate the domestic fallout from a crisis that has already strained household budgets and disrupted supply chains across the globe.
Albanese’s efforts come as Australian petroleum demand patterns, recently highlighted by industry observers, underscore the urgency of securing reliable supply lines. With the Geelong refinery offline and global markets under pressure, the 100 million litres secured represent a critical but limited buffer against potential shortages in the weeks ahead.
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