Australia strengthens military fuel supplies

A Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter conducts an in-flight refuel while embarked on HMAS Ballarat . (Department of Defence, Commonwealth of Australia)

The Australian government has moved to strengthen fuel supplies to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in line with requirements outlined in its Defence Strategic Review (DSR) to significantly enhance the management and supply of military fuel.

In recent weeks the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has awarded two major contracts to local suppliers that enhance fuel deliveries to ADF assets across the country and enable Australia to recommence local production of JP-5 military aviation fuel, which is used by aircraft operating from naval vessels.

On 16 August UGL, a subsidiary of Australia-based CIMIC construction group, said it secured a AUD500 million (USD326 million) contract to provide fuel services to the ADF. A month earlier a much larger contract, worth AUD2.7 billion, was won by Melbourne-based Viva Energy Refining to refine and supply fuel to the ADF.