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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has assured the country that, despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East and fluctuations in global energy markets, its fuel supplies are adequate to satisfy domestic needs.
Albanese said Australia currently has 6.5 billion litres of fuel across all fuel categories, the highest level since the government introduced its fuel stockholding system.
“This week’s fuel update. We currently have 6.5 billion litres of fuel in Australia in total across all fuel types, which continues to be more than we had at the start of this conflict and indeed this is the highest total amount of fuel in Australia since we introduced our fuel stock holdings,” Albanese said.
He said the strong stockpile meant Australians remained well positioned despite continued uncertainty in global energy markets.
“Australians are well placed in spite of the ongoing international turbulence,” he added.
However, the prime minister cautioned that the crisis has not yet run its course and pledged that the government would continue to closely monitor developments.
“We’re not through all of this conflict yet so we’ll continue to monitor these issues and to be responsible,” Albanese said.
Albanese’s comments come as governments around the world remain on alert over the potential impact of the U.S.-Iran conflict and the wider Middle East crisis on global energy supplies.
The region is home to some of the world’s largest oil producers and key maritime shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption passes.
Any disruption to exports or shipping in the area can trigger sharp increases in global crude oil prices and raise concerns about fuel availability.
Australia imports a significant share of its refined fuel, making it vulnerable to international supply disruptions and price volatility.
In recent years, successive governments have expanded strategic fuel stockholdings and strengthened supply resilience in response to global shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts.
We will keep working to protect Australia’s fuel supply. pic.twitter.com/L7lbgrVmTi
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 18, 2026
