Fuel supply disruption response
Fuel supply disruptions in New Zealand are coordinated by the Fuel Sector Coordinating Entity, using the response activities in the National Fuel Plan. International disruptions are coordinated through the International Energy Agency.
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Managing the effects of a domestic event
The Fuel Sector Coordinating Entity (FSCE) is a New Zealand government-industry partnership responsible for coordinating the fuel sector's response to major disruptions, like those caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, and for leading fuel emergency planning efforts. It operates under the National Fuel Plan, with representation from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) (which chairs the entity), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and fuel industry. The FSCE's goal is to ensure continued fuel supplies to the public and priority services during emergencies by developing plans, conducting exercises, and coordinating actions at the national level.
The National Fuel Plan has been developed to provide an agreed planning framework between government agencies, Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Groups and fuel sector organisations to respond to major disruptions to fuel supplies; document agreed communication and coordination arrangements at the national level for response operations during major disruption of fuel supplies; and support the implementation of regional fuel supply arrangements.
This Plan covers government and fuel sector coordination and responses in the event of a major disruption to fuel supply, including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and marine fuel.
The Plan is jointly developed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE). This plan supersedes the National Fuel Plan 2020.
National fuel plan [PDF, 2.2MB](external link) — National Emergency Management Agency
Responding to an International Energy Agency-declared emergency
In the event of a severe disruption to global oil supply, International Energy Agency (IEA) member states may decide to collectively release emergency oil stocks to the international market.
The IEA approach includes measures that New Zealand can potentially take to reduce demand and increase supply in the event of a disruption to the global oil market. As a member of the IEA, New Zealand has an obligation to hold emergency petroleum stocks equivalent to 90 days of net imports.
For more information, see New Zealand's participation in the International Energy Programme.