- Cook Labor Government securing additional 8 million litres for WA's strategic stockpile
- Fuel offered to government by Rio Tinto, through their supplier Viva Energy
- Will take total to 12 million litres owned by State that can be directed to areas of acute need
- Fuel to be stored in Wyndham, Esperance and Coogee
The Cook Labor Government is entering an agreement to purchase an additional 8 million litres of diesel for Western Australia's strategic stockpile.
This will take the total amount of diesel owned by the State to 12 million litres.
The eight million litres was offered to government by Rio Tinto, and will be purchased from their supplier, Viva Energy.
It is expected to be net debt neutral, with the State Government purchasing the fuel and selling it onto areas of acute need.
This fuel is in addition to normal import allocations of fuel for WA and will be stored at Esperance and Kwinana.
This means the government can direct fuel to where it is most needed quickly and efficiently including to regional communities and to agriculture sectors in the Wheatbelt and Great Southern.
The Cook Labor Government is working around the clock to secure fuel supply for Western Australians and keep costs down.
Through the implementation of the Premier's seven-point plan for fuel security, the work of the Fuel Industry Operations Group, the strengthening of FuelWatch and the exercising of emergency powers for greater supply chain transparency, Western Australia is as well placed as any jurisdiction to meet future supply chain disruptions resulting from the Middle East conflict.
This is evidenced by:
- the volumes of fuel held by fuel suppliers in Western Australia being greater than before the conflict started;
- the consistently small number of retailers reporting stock outages; and
- last week (commencing 15 April), Perth having the cheapest fuel on average in the country.
The establishment and expansion of a WA Government diesel stockpile is about ensuring the continuity of government services and industry, should international supply chains weaken.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"My government is committed to doing everything we can to manage the impacts of the fuel shock and plan for potential future challenges.
"I will always do what is right for Western Australia, and that's why my government has established a strategic fuel stockpile for WA.
"This additional 8 million litres of diesel, secured through a commercial partnership with Rio Tinto and Viva Energy, takes the total amount of State-owned fuel to 12 million litres.
"I thank Rio Tinto for their leadership in proactively reaching out to government and offering up this diesel.
"We will continue to work around the clock to secure fuel supply for Western Australians and keep costs down.
As stated by Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"I'd like to thank Rio Tinto and Viva Energy for supporting the WA community and providing the opportunity for the Cook Labor Government to purchase this additional fuel for our State stockpile.
"Western Australia is different to other States. We have a vast terrain and a number of priority areas and industries that need access quickly and efficiently to diesel.
"This strategic stockpile will be a lifeline for areas of acute need such as our regional communities and our farmers.
"That's why it makes sense for us to have our own WA based stockpile with allocations stored in key areas easily accessible to the Kimberley, the Wheatbelt and the Goldfields-Esperance region."
As stated by Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Matthew Holcz:
"This is a tough situation for a lot of people acrossWA,and we want to do what we can to help.
"We'regladwe'rein a positionto contribute to the State's diesel supplies and we hope it goes some way to easing the pressure on communities and farmers at this challenging time."
As stated by Viva Energy CEO Scott Wyatt:
"Viva Energy is proud to support Rio Tinto and the Western Australian Government in securing additional diesel supplies for the community.
"We have a long-standing relationship with both, and are glad to work together to ensure the WA Government has confidence in the supply chains, particularly into rural, farming and mining communities.
"We will continue to support our customers and the market, and to work closely with Government on security of supply."
