Victoria
Australian biofuel exported offshore during fuel shortages
The federal government is considering mandates to force fuel companies to buy domestic biofuels after millions of litres were exported.
More than 60 megalitres of Australian-made biofuel products were sold to offshore markets at the exact same time as petrol and diesel pumps across the nation ran dry.
According to reporting by a wire service, the export of these millions of litres of fuel occurred while Australian motorists and businesses faced severe shortages at local service stations.
In response to the supply crisis, the federal government has commenced a consultation process to determine whether petroleum companies should be forced to purchase Australian-made fuels. The potential policy is designed to help shore up the nation's domestic fuel supplies and prevent future shortages.
It remains unconfirmed which specific international buyers received the exported Australian biofuels, and the exact names of the companies involved in the transactions have not been disclosed. Additionally, the precise dates over which the 60 megalitres were shipped offshore during the shortage have not been made public.
The shortages left many local petrol and diesel pumps entirely empty, causing widespread disruption for transport operators and everyday motorists. The incident has raised questions about why Australian-produced fuel was allowed to leave the country during a domestic supply emergency.
The government's consultation will examine whether forcing petroleum companies to buy locally made biofuels is a viable long-term solution to domestic fuel insecurity.
All eyes will now be on the federal government to see whether it will introduce formal legislation to mandate local fuel purchases once the consultation period concludes.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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