Purpose of the Strategy
The Oil Emergency Response Strategy (the Strategy) sets out the broad policy and operational aspects that underpin the government's response to a disruption of oil supplies, either to fulfil New Zealand's obligations as a member of the International Energy Agency (IEA) or to ensure that the effects of an oil supply disruption on New Zealand in a non-IEA declared oil emergency are minimised.
- Part 1 provides an overview of the Strategy.
- Part 2 allocates roles and responsibilities for action, including review and deactivation.
- Part 3 summarises the key oil emergency measures government could use to respond to an oil supply disruption.
- Part 4 sets out the communications plan.
The Strategy contributes to New Zealand's transport resilience, one of the key themes of the New Zealand Energy Strategy, by ensuring short term oil security, and to the world-class infrastructure objective of the economic transformation agenda. Measures contained in the Strategy would only be considered in a severe oil supply disruption and would not be considered where the primary purpose is to manage prices or to assist particular suppliers.
Next Steps
- The oil emergency measures in part 3 will be further developed as part of an ongoing work programme to provide guidance on their implementation, including the drafting of regulations where necessary. This work will ensure that the government has a range of measures in place for rapid decision making and response in an oil emergency situation.
- The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) will develop a detailed handbook with guidelines and processes for the implementation of the measures. This handbook will primarily be for the use of decision makers during an oil supply disruption.
- MED will review the Strategy on a regular basis in light of changes in the oil security environment.
In the Strategy the term "oil" refers to all engine fuels.1
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