Australia’s closure of its refineries over the past seven years has added 67bn tonne miles to regional tanker trades, according to a top shipbroker.
The country is now at a crossroads, with a choice between keeping its refining industry alive or increasing fuel imports to meet its domestic refined products demand.
Between 2012 and 2015, BP shut its Brisbane refinery with a crude processing capacity of 102,000 barrels per day (bpd), while Ampol closed its 135,000-bpd Kurnell refinery and Shell its 75,000-bpd Clyde plant, both near Sydney.
