Auckland Fuel Crisis Day 7 latest: Government group launched

As the Auckland fuel crisis continues into its seventh day, the government has formed an action group to ensure jet fuel supply into Auckland.

Flights continue to be disrupted in Auckland following the rupture of a pipe between Marsden Point and a petrol company-owned Wiri storage depot.

Airlines have been rationing fuel by 30% but this is expected to be lifted from next Thursday.

Energy Minister Judith Collins says the industry group includes representatives from major fuel companies as well as Air New Zealand, KiwiRail, Auckland Council, Auckland Airport, Auckland Transport, the NZ Defence Force, Ministry of Civil Defence and the Ministry of Transport. Its aim will be to coordinate the response to the supply issues which resulted from the leak.

Getting back on board
Air New Zealand appears to be easing cancellations. While the national carrier cancelled 21 flights today, it has so far only cancelled three flights tomorrow – from Melbourne to Auckland, and from Auckland to Houston and back.

In its latest update Refining NZ said  it had repaired the south side of the pipe leak and was preparing to isolate the north side of the leak in the 170 kilometre pipeline today.

The company says it remains on track to meet its Wiri delivery window between midday Sunday and midday Tuesday (September 26).  

Ms Collins says the government is moving to make it easier for tankers to carry more fuel and has issued 12 permits so far to allow overweight vehicles to move fuel.

"As of today some companies are filling trucks to higher than usual weight limits in order to maximise the efficiency of their trucking operations and some service station deliveries are now occurring outside of typically permitted time windows - i.e the middle of the night," says Andrew McNaught, a spokesman for refinery customers.

The government says NZ Defence will deploy the HMNZS Endeavour to Marsden Point at 11am tomorrow, as well as providing trucks and drivers.  The industry is also testing today for the first time a new jet fuel facility for trucks at the Whangarei truck loading facilities which could enable limited jet bridging from the refinery.  The refinery is still producing fuel and two dedicated coastal shipping vessels are loading at the refinery for distribution at the country's ports.

Export NZ chief executive Catherine Beard told NBR businesses are finding workarounds as restrictions are placed on air freight. “They have contingencies in play because disruption in international freight is not an unusual occurrence. People are working extra hard but the feedback I’ve had is freight is business as usual but it depends how long the shortage goes for.”