So rather than asking for more refined fuel today \u2013 with the government maintaining there is more supply onshore now than at the beginning of the US-Israel war on Iran, and the steadily dwindling number of service stations without stocks \u2013 the visit was about shoring up our existing supplies if things go more pear-shaped.<\/p>\n
Like, for instance, if the fragile ceasefire is shattered, or if Israel\u2019s escalating bombing of Lebanon sees Iran once again close the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
The Australian side was buoyed by Singaporean prime minister Lawrence Wong\u2019s firm response<\/a> that \u201cwe do not plan to restrict exports \u2026 we will not do so during this energy crisis.\u201d It was seen as the closest thing to a guarantee that Australia will not see any reduction in supply from our biggest source of refined fuels.<\/p>\n The energy minister, Chris Bowen<\/a>, said these kind of diplomatic statements \u201care often quite nuanced\u201d, calling Wong\u2019s response \u201cas strong as you could expect it to be\u201d in terms of a pledge that Australia will keep getting Singaporean fuel.<\/p>\n But it was an earlier line from Wong, in his pre-prepared opening statement, which underlines the biggest risk that Australia faces, and which Albanese was seeking to forward-plan for: uncertainty.<\/p>\n Wong assured Albanese that Singapore<\/a> would continue supplying refined fuels to Australia, with the caveat \u201cas long as upstream supplies continue\u201d.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email<\/a><\/p>\n In one sense, that\u2019s blindingly obvious: Singapore relies on importing crude oil, rather than extracting directly. If its own upstream supply chain is interrupted, then the downstream supply to Australia and elsewhere is naturally impacted.<\/p>\n Leaders worldwide are crossing their fingers and hoping the strait will reopen, the ceasefire will hold, and any economic or supply shocks \u2013 including those yet to come, already baked into the system from six weeks of interruptions to global shipping \u2013 can be endured.<\/p>\n But in the event that the situation deteriorates, that the bloody Middle East conflict drags on or petrol prices keep spiking, the government wants to say they\u2019ve pulled every lever, turned over every rock, made every phone call and called in every favour to lessen the pain at home.<\/p>\n Having received assurances from Singapore, increasing efforts to secure more certainty of diesel supply \u2013 as prices spike despite the fuel excise cut \u2013 will surely be next on the agenda.<\/p>\n![\"Anthony](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1206.jpg\")
Anthony Albanese announces agreement with Singapore to protect mutual energy security \u2013\u00a0video <\/p>\n