澳大利亚联邦政府宣布投入400万澳元，对在西澳大利亚皮尔巴拉地区卡拉撒建设新炼油厂的可行性进行研究[1][2]。该项目由肥料生产商Perdaman提议，若建成将成为澳大利亚自1960年代以来首个新建大型炼油设施，也将成为该国第三家炼油厂[1][2]。总理安东尼·阿尔巴内塞定于周二访问卡拉撒宣布这一研究[1]，西澳州总理罗杰·库克也参与了宣布[2]。
澳大利亚当前面临能源安全隐忧。该国约90%的日均燃料消费依赖进口[1]，而过去20年间本土8家炼油厂中已有6家关闭[1]。全球约五分之一的石油通过霍尔木兹海峡运输，中东地缘政治风险加剧了对能源供应的担忧[2]。总理阿尔巴内塞表示："中东战争持续的时间越长，对澳大利亚的影响就越大"[2]。能源部长玛德琳·金指出，新炼油厂"将对主权产能产生巨大差异"[1]，该项目是1500万澳元燃料安全一揽子计划的一部分[2]。
然而，新炼油厂的经济可行性仍存疑问。财务分析师估计建厂成本可能超过15亿澳元[1]。资源部长玛德琳·金表示，该炼厂仍将依赖进口原油[2]。能源分析师萨乌尔·卡沃尼克认为新炼油厂有助于应对"急性"风险[1]，但项目能否最终付诸实施仍取决于可行性研究的结论。
The Australian federal government will invest AUD 4 million to examine the viability of constructing a new oil refinery in Western Australia's Pilbara region near Karratha[1][2]. The proposed facility, to be developed by Perth-based company Perdaman, would represent the first major refinery project in the country since the 1960s[1][2].
The announcement comes as Australia seeks to strengthen its fuel security and sovereign capacity in response to global oil price volatility. Approximately 90 percent of Australia's daily fuel consumption currently depends on imports[1], while six of the country's eight refineries have closed over the past two decades[1]. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled to announce the study in Karratha on Tuesday[1]. The project forms part of a AUD 15 million fuel security package[2], with the federal government committing AUD 10 million to support the feasibility research[2].
The proposed refinery would depend on imported crude oil[2], and financial analysts estimate construction costs could exceed AUD 15 billion[1]. Energy Minister Madeline King stated that the facility "would make an enormous difference to sovereign productive capacity"[1]. Energy analyst Saul Kavonic indicated the refinery would help address "acute" risks[1]. The new facility would become Australia's third operational refinery, joining existing plants in Brisbane and Geelong[2].