National fuel supply at risk due to AdBlue shortage, Australian defence expert warns

John Blackburn, former deputy chief of the Royal Australian air force and an expert on fuel security, said the vast majority of petrol and diesel in Australia is carried by trucks, rather than trains or coastal shipping tankers.

AdBlue is required for most modern diesel engines to suppress emissions, but there are shortages because its key ingredient, urea, which is also used as a fertiliser, is running dangerously low after China restricted exports of the product. The shortage is also due to the price of gas, the main feedstock for urea.

The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) says almost all fuel in Australia is transported by large road tankers.

A spokesperson for the association said it was more than likely that all of these fuel trucks would be part of the 1.5m trucks affected by the AdBlue shortage.

As of January this year, there were 20.1m registered motor vehicles of which 15.6% (4.1m) were trucks. Diesel vehicles make up 26.4% of all vehicles, up from 20.9% in 2016 and almost all modern diesel engines (those made in the past 10 years) use AdBlue.

The NatRoad spokesman said the shortage was hitting hardest and first in the bush.

Taylor said the government was working closely with industry to ensure a sustainable, ongoing supply of the diesel exhaust fluid, including international supply options for refined urea, bolstering local manufacturing capabilities and technical options for vehicles.