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Australia Could Run Out Of Fuel In A Few Weeks After Syria Bombing

Australia Could Run Out Of Fuel In A Few Weeks After Syria Bombing

Military analysts have reportedly been warning the government for years that interference in the Middle East can affect petrol stocks

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Experts are warning that Australia's fuel reserves could face some 'real trouble' in less than six weeks.

The Australian reports Down Under only has 43 days' worth of stock left and the recent bombing campaign in Syria hasn't helped the situation.

Senator Jim Molan has told 2GB: "We stand in real trouble and this is a single point of failure for Australia, very similar to what could happen in a cyber situation."

The International Energy Agency mandates that countries should have up to 90 days' worth of stock and yet Australia is less than half that.

Because a lot of fuel comes from the Gulf, any interruption to exporting as a result of what's happening in Syria could be dire for Australia.

Defence Strategy and Capability at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Dr Malcolm Davis added to news.com.au: "We've left ourselves in a perilous situation and governments on both sides have been negligent in this regard.

"Military analysts have been warning consistently for years and they just ignore it.

PA

"Instead of investing in refinement facilities here for refining fuel, the government has decided it's cheaper to do it overseas."

Senator Molan has also highlighted that if conflict breaks out in Asia, Australia will be in a similar situation.

He told Sky News: "We see streams of ships coming round from the Gulf, coming across the Indian Ocean, going through the straits through the South China Sea to where it's refined for us.

"It's refined in Singapore, yes, but it's also refined in Japan, in Korea and in China. It then is turned into diesel, aviation fuel and petrol and comes down in ships to Australia's ports."

PA

While tensions have eased a bit in the Koreas, there's still concern about that region. There's also a lot of focus on what's happening with the South China Sea and the ongoing dispute between involved nations about who owns what.

While everything seems fine at the moment, all it takes is for one piece of the domino set to fall before Australia finds itself in a tricky situation.

Calls have subsequently been increased to government officials to begin setting up local sources to refine fuel, which would not only provide more jobs but would also allow for a bit more stability.

Dr Davis adds: "It's very negligent of the government to let this situation happen. It's even more appalling we've been warning both political parties for years about this."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Australia