Sydney, April 4 (NationPress) - The Australian Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, announced on Saturday that the country's fuel supply continues to be robust, with an increasing amount of petrol being delivered to service stations nationwide.

In a weekly fuel supply briefing, Bowen informed reporters in Sydney that Australia currently possesses approximately 39 days worth of petrol, 29 days of diesel, and 30 days of jet fuel in its reserves.

"The stability of these figures indicates that fuel is consistently being distributed to service stations and agricultural operations, while simultaneously being replenished at our import terminals and refineries," Bowen stated.

He highlighted a decline in the number of petrol stations facing fuel shortages and noted ongoing efforts to restock supplies, with 50 shipments en route to Australia.

Bowen remarked, "Australia's fuel supply is strong, with over 50 ships currently heading to our shores," mentioning that while there have been six canceled orders, they have been effectively replaced with new ones.

Currently, the total number of service stations lacking diesel in Australia stands at 312 out of roughly 8,000 service stations, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

He reiterated the Australian government's advice for citizens to adhere to their Easter holiday plans, urging them to purchase only the fuel they require and to buy it in urban areas to assist in maintaining fuel supplies in rural regions.

Earlier this week, the leader of Australia's most populous state emphasized the need for greater control over the nation’s energy resources to mitigate future oil price volatility.

Chris Minns, the Premier of New South Wales (NSW), stated that Australia must explore ways to minimize its dependence on Middle Eastern oil, particularly in light of the ongoing supply crisis arising from regional conflicts.

"We need increased sovereignty and autonomy over our energy resources to ensure our economy can function independently of events in the Middle East," he asserted on Tuesday.

He urged Australian policymakers to begin making proactive decisions to avoid being adversely affected by future Middle Eastern conflicts.

Minns indicated that his government plans to leverage the upcoming state budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year and the campaign for the 2027 state elections to announce comprehensive measures aimed at transitioning NSW’s economy towards electrification.

"This entails a greater number of electric vehicles, more charging infrastructure, and innovative solutions for the future of our economy," he stated.

In response to concerns regarding fuel supply, the NSW government announced on Tuesday an adjustment to freight load limits, enabling longer trucks to operate on the state's roadways and lifting curfews to facilitate nighttime freight movement.

According to the NSW government, these longer trucks will consume at least 18% less diesel per ton of payload while carrying 33% more freight.