Seven charts that reveal how unprepared Australia was for the fuel crisis

Disruptions to Middle East oil shipments have rippled along the world’s longest supply chain through Asia – and there’s no knowing when the pressure will ease Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast It’s been a bewildering few weeks since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran triggered a global energy shock that shows little sign of ending. Here are seven charts that tell the story so far. At the turn of this century, Australia produced 563,000 barrels of oil a day, with eight refineries supplying 98% of our total petroleum product needs. From that high point, oil and petroleum production has slumped to the point where the country relies on imports for 90% of its liquid fuel needs and oil production is at its lowest since the late 1960s. Over the past 25 years, the number of local refineries has also dropped: Mobil’s Port Stanvac refinery in South Australia was mothballed in 2003 (and permanently closed in 2009). Shell’s Clyde refinery was closed in November 2013. Caltex closed its Kurnell refinery in Sydney in October 2014. BP did the same with its Brisbane plant in mid-2015. BP then closed its Kwinana ref