Leading Australian climate policy experts have described a proposed new oil refinery in Western Australia as an investment in "dinosaur technology" that would likely require public subsidies and do little to enhance the country's fuel security.
The Albanese government, in conjunction with the WA government, announced a A$4m early-stage feasibility study for a new oil refinery in the Pilbara region on Tuesday. However, experts suggest that the funds would be better allocated to green technology to reduce Australia's reliance on fossil fuels.
Greg Bourne, a councillor at the Climate Council and former regional president of BP in Australia, stated that any potential refinery is unlikely to be economically viable. Professor Frank Jotzo, director of the Centre for Climate and Energy Policy at Australian National University, added that investing in an oil refinery would send "a big signal against the clean energy transition."
Geoscience Australia's 2025 commodity resource report indicates that Australia's domestic crude oil production is rapidly declining and is projected to cease within the next seven years without new commercial discoveries. Baethan Mullen, chief executive of the Superpower Institute, noted that this means a new refinery would likely refine imported crude oil, offering minimal improvement to Australia's sovereign capability.