South Australian motorists will soon be able to see real time fuel availability alongside fuel prices on the RAA app and website, as the state continues to deal with pressure on fuel supplies linked to conflict in the Middle East.
The new feature will allow drivers to check whether a service station has fuel available before leaving home. It will also provide a running total of how many stations across the state are experiencing stock shortages.
At present, almost 90 per cent of South Australian fuel retailers still have all fuel types available. Out of more than 700 service stations across the state, 78 are currently reporting shortages of one or more fuel grades. National figures released in recent days show South Australia has been less affected than some larger states, although local shortages have continued to appear at regional and independent sites.
The state government says the extra information is designed to reassure motorists and reduce unnecessary panic buying, which has added to supply pressures in recent weeks.
Wholesalers across Australia have reportedly placed many fuel grades on full allocation, meaning contracted customers are prioritised for supply. This has made it harder for some regional retailers to source fuel quickly when demand rises suddenly. Community discussions online have pointed to some local stations running out of specific fuel types for short periods before being restocked later.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said South Australians deserved clear information about how international events were affecting fuel availability locally.
Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said supplies were still reaching South Australia as normal and advised people to continue buying fuel only when needed.
The RAA said its advice to motorists had not changed. Drivers are being encouraged to avoid topping up unnecessarily and instead use the app to find the best available price and nearby fuel supply.
The organisation says use of its fuel feature has risen sharply in recent weeks. RAA reported a 400 per cent jump in traffic to its real time fuel pricing tool as motorists searched for updates on fuel availability and prices. Reports of suspected pricing breaches have also surged.
The latest update builds on South Australia’s fuel pricing laws, which require service stations to report any change in pump prices to a central database within 30 minutes. The information is then shared through apps including the RAA App, giving motorists a live view of fuel prices and, now, availability.
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