Australia PM Albanese will visit Brunei and Malaysia to shore-up fuel supply

The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is visiting Brunei this week and Malaysia next, as part of his diplomatic efforts to secure fuel supplies for Asian allies following disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.

Albanese's office announced in a Sunday statement that he will be traveling to Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Lumpur and Bandar Seri Begawan from April 14-17.

He will meet Brunei’s ruler Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and Malaysian Premier Anwar Ibrahim.

The statement said that Foreign Minister 'Penny Wong' would also meet with her counterparts from Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore.

Albanese stated that engaging with regional partners like Brunei Darussalam or Malaysia would help to?ensure Australia’s energy supply is secure in times of uncertainty.

"We are doing everything we can to strengthen relationships and engage key partners in order to keep our fuel supply flowing."

The trip comes at a time when Australia relies on its Asian partners to maintain fuel supply amid disruptions due to Iran's blocking of the Strait of Hormuz. Through this strait, about one-fifth of world oil and gas passed before the conflict.

Since the closure of the Strait, Australia has seen localised shortages, and prices have risen.

Malaysia is Australia's largest?source? of refined fuel, and provides 10% of its fertiliser grade?urea imports.

Brunei is the source of 9% of Australia’s diesel imports, and 11% of its fertiliser grade urea imports.

The government held fuel talks with Brunei as well as China, Indonesia Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Brunei. Albanese also travelled to Singapore last week to meet Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The two leaders agreed to a closer collaboration to ensure energy security. Reporting by Christine Chen, Sydney; Editing and translation by Raju Gopalakrishnan & Alexander Smith

(source: Reuters)