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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/25/fuel-rationing-at-melbourne-airport-disrupts-flights
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| Fuel rationing at Melbourne airport disrupts flights | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Flights out of Melbourne are making fuel stops at other cities after “immediate and deep” fuel rations were enforced at Australia’s second busiest airport.Several international flights departed Melbourne behind schedule on Friday after fuel rations were enforced late on Thursday night. | Flights out of Melbourne are making fuel stops at other cities after “immediate and deep” fuel rations were enforced at Australia’s second busiest airport.Several international flights departed Melbourne behind schedule on Friday after fuel rations were enforced late on Thursday night. |
| On Friday Qantas sent two Asia-bound flights via Sydney so the planes could refuel but said its domestic operations have not been affected. | On Friday Qantas sent two Asia-bound flights via Sydney so the planes could refuel but said its domestic operations have not been affected. |
| The ABC has reported that the shortage is due to a shipment of imported fuel that failed quality controls following its arrival in Melbourne. | The ABC has reported that the shortage is due to a shipment of imported fuel that failed quality controls following its arrival in Melbourne. |
| The operator of the fuel tanks at Melbourne Airport, ExxonMobil, said it is working with airlines to manage the rations.“The supply issue has arisen following disruptions in recent weeks to jet fuel deliveries from multiple fuel terminals across Melbourne, which are in the process of being resolved,” an ExxonMobil spokesman said in a statement on Friday. | The operator of the fuel tanks at Melbourne Airport, ExxonMobil, said it is working with airlines to manage the rations.“The supply issue has arisen following disruptions in recent weeks to jet fuel deliveries from multiple fuel terminals across Melbourne, which are in the process of being resolved,” an ExxonMobil spokesman said in a statement on Friday. |
| The fuel rationing has raised questions about the vulnerability of Australia’s fuel supply, which is heavily dependent on imports after the closure of several refineries. Two fuel shortages prompted rationing at the airport in 2015. | The fuel rationing has raised questions about the vulnerability of Australia’s fuel supply, which is heavily dependent on imports after the closure of several refineries. Two fuel shortages prompted rationing at the airport in 2015. |
| The number of refineries operating across the country has fallen from seven to four over the past decade as Australian refineries faced competition from direct fuel imports from lower-cost operations across Asia. Australia sources 85% of its refined fuel from Asia according to the Australian Institute of Petroleum. | The number of refineries operating across the country has fallen from seven to four over the past decade as Australian refineries faced competition from direct fuel imports from lower-cost operations across Asia. Australia sources 85% of its refined fuel from Asia according to the Australian Institute of Petroleum. |
| Two local refineries providing fuel directly to Melbourne airport via a pipeline are both understood to be operating at normal levels. | Two local refineries providing fuel directly to Melbourne airport via a pipeline are both understood to be operating at normal levels. |
| Airlines flying domestic routes and short-haul international routes have been “tankering” fuel – which involves planes taking a considerably larger load of fuel into Melbourne so no more than a small top-up is required before departure. | Airlines flying domestic routes and short-haul international routes have been “tankering” fuel – which involves planes taking a considerably larger load of fuel into Melbourne so no more than a small top-up is required before departure. |
| The board of Airline Representatives of Australia blamed the lack of urgency to increase the capacity of the fuel supply chain from refineries and seaports through to the aircraft at the airport. | The board of Airline Representatives of Australia blamed the lack of urgency to increase the capacity of the fuel supply chain from refineries and seaports through to the aircraft at the airport. |
| “You need some headroom and some redundancy in the system to handle unforeseen or unplanned events,” executive director Barry Abrams said on Friday.“Unfortunately, as demand has grown so close to supply, we don’t have that level of redundancy that we need.” | “You need some headroom and some redundancy in the system to handle unforeseen or unplanned events,” executive director Barry Abrams said on Friday.“Unfortunately, as demand has grown so close to supply, we don’t have that level of redundancy that we need.” |
| The airport is advising passengers to contact their airline for up-to-date information about flights on Friday. | The airport is advising passengers to contact their airline for up-to-date information about flights on Friday. |
| • Australian Associated Press contributed to this report | • Australian Associated Press contributed to this report |