Revealed: The six fuel companies WA Premier refuses to name

The six companies that forced the WA government to enact emergency powers to get their fuel supply chain information are among the state’s biggest fuel station chains.

WAtoday can reveal the six companies referred to by the WA Premier Roger Cook and Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson over the past week, but not named, are: Viva Energy, which services Shell fuel stations; Ampol; Chevron Downstream, which services the Caltex network; United; Mobil, which services 7/11s; and BP.

WA Governor Chris Dawson declared a ‘state of emergency’ on Wednesday to unlock extraordinary powers under the Fuel, Energy and Power Resources Act, enabling Sanderson to compel fuel suppliers to cough up sensitive information about fuel stocks and supply chains.

Sanderson said the powers were needed because only three companies had provided that information voluntarily.

She told Radio 6PR on Thursday morning that a fourth company provided the requested information that morning.

Viva Energy, Ampol and Chevron told this masthead they had all provided the state with the requested information. BP, Mobil and United were approached for comment.

“Chevron, through the Caltex fuel network, remains committed to working constructively with the WA government and relevant agencies to support the continuity of supply to customers and communities,” a Chevron spokesman said.

Sanderson and Cook have resisted calls to publicly name the six companies despite the Premier’s tough rhetoric on March 27 when he wrote to the companies demanding they provide the information willingly or be legally compelled using the Fuel, Energy and Power Resources Act powers.

“We’re not going to name names, we don’t do that in WA, we work together to make sure we get a good outcome,” he said.

“The decisions that we took yesterday, the steps that we took yesterday, provide them with complete protection.”

On Thursday, Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, who backed Cook’s decision to enact those extraordinary powers, urged the WA government to name the companies for which this law was enacted.

“They’ve said, ‘we’re working well together’, then the state of emergency is required,” he said.

“I think the people of Western Australia have a right to know. I think the people of WA deserve to know which fuel companies haven’t done the right thing, and which fuel companies have prompted the state government to use these extraordinary powers, albeit for the right reason.

“I think that’s what full transparency looks like, and again, that’s why I say the government can’t throw that around when it suits them, but not at other times.”

These companies are the state’s largest importers of fuel and, before the Iran war, their surplus stock would be sent to a spot market for independent retailers and stations at the end of the supply chain.

That spot market has dried up since the war started, leaving independent retailers scrounging for fuel, which has exacerbated fuel supply issues in agriculture and mining regions.

Sanderson said the commercial information will be used to get a better understanding of where fuel is and isn’t flowing in the state.

Cook said he was sure the remaining two companies would provide the requested information soon.

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