Roger Cook is fending off attacks over WA’s diesel fuel reserves after it was revealed the multi-million dollar stockpile would last just six hours for average consumption.
According to shadow energy minister Steve Thomas, the State and its heavy industries consume up to 16.4 million litres on average each day and would consume the new four million litre reserve in mere hours.
The $10 million State-owned stockpile will be held in Wyndham, in the Kimberley and will not be for general consumption.
It will be used to top-up supplies when required, with a focus on providing emergency relief for areas in need such as agriculture and remote communities.
Dr Thomas said the stockpile would not make a dent.
“The storage of 4 million litres of diesel sounds significant but represents six hours of average consumption,” he said.
“Extending the storage to 12 million litres of diesel would equate to 18 hours of average demand.”
But the Premier argued the intent of the supply was not for widespread use, but to address acute shortages.
“That’s an indication of just how the Opposition doesn’t understand or doesn’t listen,” he said.
“What this is about is giving the Government four million litres to be able to say, ‘right, we need fuel in this area tomorrow, let’s get the trucks going, let’s get that fuel there as quickly as possible’.”
Mr Cook also outlined where he’d like to see the next reserve placed, saying he’d like to see one in the State’s south and Goldfields.
“I’d expect something definitely towards the south, and I think we’d like to see some reserve capability in the Goldfields,” he said.
“We just need to really understand where we have empty tanks, we’ll look at people who will make those tanks available to us to get those reserves in.”
Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said he supported the move, and allayed fears it would compete with any Federal reserve.
“I welcome Western Australia’s news, I think this is good policy by them,” he said.
“They’ve sought and received assurances that the diesel that they’ve procured is additional to Australia, so it’s not taking diesel off another state, so that’s a good thing.
“They’re working hard to bring more diesel into Australia. I find their approach complementary to our approach, not in any way in conflict with it.”
