Australian PM in Brunei in Latest Step to Ensure Fuel Keeps Flowing

The prime minister also aims to secure fertiliser supply too.

Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (R) and Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) pose with documents after a signing ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei on April 15, 2026. Muhammad Rudean/AFP via Getty Images

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has turned to the small, wealthy country of Brunei in his ongoing efforts to ensure fuel keeps flowing to Australia.

Brunei’s economy has been dominated by the oil and gas industries for the past 90 years, with the energy sector accounting for 46.7 percent of its AU$22.82 billion GDP in 2024.

Brunei produces roughly 90,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and significant natural gas, with key operations managed by Brunei Shell Petroleum. More recently, Brunei Fertiliser Industries has become a major supplier, with its first major export in 2022.

The country—which is surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak—is ruled by the Sultan, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, currently the world’s longest-serving head of state and one of its richest men, with an estimated personal net worth ranging from US$20 billion to over $50 billion.

Albanese, who is already in the country with Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

In a brief statement to reporters in the capital, Brunei Darussalam, he said he was looking forward to “having the opportunity to reinforce what is a very constructive and positive relationship between our two nations. One where Brunei is an important supplier of fertiliser, and of 9 percent of our diesel to Australia. And Australia is a reliable supplier of food and other products here in Brunei as well.”

The aim of the visit is to ensure that the tap remains turned on, despite potential competing requests from other countries for a share of Brunei’s oil reserves, estimated at 1.1 billion barrels.

Fertiliser Also on the Agenda

In addition to diesel, the tiny sultanate also supplies 11 percent of Australia’s crude oil and 11 percent of its fertiliser-grade urea. In return, Australia supplies Brunei with food, including around three-quarters of its meat imports in 2024.

Albanese has tried to focus more on bilateral resource security in his pitch to Asian leaders, like Singapore, where he has sought to secure priority access to fuel supplies by guaranteeing shipments of liquefied natural gas.

As well as meeting the Sultan, Albanese and Wong toured Brunei Fertiliser Industries, meeting with CEO Harri Kiiski to try to secure long-term fertiliser stocks, which have also been impacted by the interruption of trade through the Strait of Hormuz.

The pair laid a wreath at a memorial to Australian soldiers who helped liberate much of the nation, along with then-British Borneo, from Japanese forces during World War II.