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Australia Reduces Fuel Stockpiling Obligation Amid Middle East Conflict
Australia Adjusts Fuel Reserve Obligations
Chris Bowen, Australia's Energy Minister, announced that the federal government is adjusting the minimum stockholding obligation (MSO) for diesel and petrol. This decision comes in response to the ongoing risks to the global fuel supply chain exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East. The aim is to enable fuel companies to manage their supply chains more flexibly and ensure that more fuel reaches regional Australia.
Details of Diesel and Petrol Obligation Reductions
The MSO, which was introduced by the Albanese government in 2023, will see a reduction for diesel from 2.7 billion litres to 2.2 billion litres. For petrol, the obligation will decrease from 1 billion litres to 700 million litres. Minister Bowen clarified that this fuel will not be released immediately. Instead, the government will engage in further discussions with fuel companies to ensure that this additional supply effectively flows to regions experiencing shortages, contingent on their cooperative efforts.
*Source: YouTube: ABC Australia (2026-03-13)*
