The Australian Government has temporarily made a minor adjustment to diesel standards, which will help suppliers bring more fuel into the domestic market for farmers, truckers and regional communities.
The six-month adjustment will lower what’s known as the flashpoint for diesel, from 61.5 degrees Celsius, to 60.5 degrees Celsius, increasing diesel supply options from refiners and international sources.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen says the changes will give Australian refineries more flexibility for making diesel, and widen the markets from which they source diesel, including from the US, Canada and Europe, which allow diesel with lower flashpoints.
“This will give companies more flexibility and more options to adjust supply chains to manage disruption from the Middle East,” he adds.
Bowen says flashpoint changes have no impact on engines or emissions. “Australia typically has a slightly higher temperature flashpoint owing to our hotter climate however when the flashpoint was last lowered in 2020, we saw no adverse impact on engines or emission,” he says.
“This flashpoint change does not require any changes to storage or handling protocols. The National Transport Commission and the Fuel Standards Consultative Committee, which includes Truck Industry Council, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and Australian Automobile Association, have supported this change.”