Over the Christmas through February period, CMEIG has been actively involved with the National Co-ordination group to ensure the availability of Adblue supplies.

Adblue is a critical additive to diesel engines and ensuring supply availability is consistent with CMEIG member’s aims of reducing emissions.

With circa 200,000 pieces of equipment at quarries, mines, construction sites and ports around Australia, keeping CMEIG members moving is pivotal to keeping Australia operating.

In summary the key actions taken are:

Domestic Supply

Incitec Pivot Limited (IPL) AdBlue production:

  • Under its temporary arrangement with the Government, IPL has ramped up its production of AdBlue by around 800 per cent and as of the week commencing 17 January 2022 IPL achieved a significant milestone, producing over 3 million litres of AdBlue in the week; the equivalent of approximately 75 per cent of Australia’s AdBlue needs.
  • IPL is now producing between 3 and 3.5 million litres of AdBlue (per week) on a rolling-average basis and continue to work closely with AdBlue manufacturers and schedulers to ensure product is reaching the market efficiently.
  • IPL’s local supply shows the situation is being remedied, providing confidence to the market.
  • IPL will shortly begin trialling the production of technical grade urea (TGU) and will work closely with the Suppliers Working Group (SWG) to ensure sufficient stocks of AdBlue and imports of TGU are available ahead of the TGU trial.

Localised supply issues brought up through the Suppliers Working Group

  • Australia currently has sufficient volumes of AdBlue to meet its needs and IPL’s local production is helping to restore normal national stock levels. As a result fuel companies, overall, are beginning to see inventory levels increase.
  • Priority sites (i.e. major outlets along trucking routes) should now remain in stock. AdBlue users may continue to see a few sites occasionally stocked-out, but can be reassured that with the new AdBlue supply coming into the market, these sites are being progressively replenished. Intensive efforts are also underway to stock up retail units of AdBlue (e.g. 1lt, 3.5lt 10lt and 20lt containers). It will take some weeks before these packaged goods are restocked at all sites.
  • While stock levels are recovering, we continue to stress the importance of responsible purchasing according to need.

International Supply

The Federal Government has facilitated Technical Grade Urea (TGU) from a range of countries including Indonesia and the Middle East.

AdBlue Manufacturers

  • The Government continues to assist AdBlue manufacturers with shipping and customs entry into Australia, to ensure supplies can be fast-tracked into Australia.
  • Industry has advised the Government that shipments are on route and significant quantities of TGU will arrive in late February to early March.

Overall this has been a tremendous example of industry working with Government to address a major problem at short notice.

Special mention to Incitec Pivot for the responsiveness to increase domestic production at short notice and for their communication through the process.