• Energy Minister Chris Bowen says filling up at metropolitan stations before road trips would help ease pressure on regional supply
• Government says more than 50 fuel ships are on way, but risks to supply remain into June

ISTANBUL

Australia’s government has urged motorists planning long-distance travel over the weekend to refuel at city service stations as fuel shortages worsen across parts of the country following supply disruptions linked to US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said hundreds of petrol stations across Australia had run out of fuel, with rural areas particularly affected, according to Sky News Australia.

Bowen said diesel supplies in the coming weeks would need to be prioritized for farmers preparing to sow crops, adding that Australians planning road trips this weekend could help ease pressure on regional supply by filling up in metropolitan areas before departing.

“It makes sense for Australians planning long trips this weekend to buy fuel in city stations and help the country,” Bowen said.

He also said more than 50 fuel tankers were on their way to Australia to help secure supply for April and May but warned shortages could continue into June.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the government would halve the fuel excise on petrol and diesel for three months, saying the measure aims to keep prices lower until June 30.

However, businesses have raised concerns about the adequacy of fuel supplies.

"Australia burns through roughly 4.5 billion liters a month, so we're not even covering a full month's consumption," said Matt Barrie, executive chairman of Loadshift, one of Australia’s largest online freight marketplaces.

"And what happens next month?" he asked, according to ABC News.

Australian media reported that panic buying by consumers has worsened the fuel shortage in a country heavily reliant on imported fuel.

Fuel markets have been under strain since shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted by the conflict following US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory actions.

The strategic waterway connects major Gulf producers including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq and Iran to global markets and normally carries about a quarter of global oil trade and roughly one-fifth of LNG trade.