Ampol and Viva Energy are lobbying the Australian federal government for a significant expansion of subsidy support to keep their refineries operational, despite reporting a surge in profits this year.
The push comes as the two companies, which operate the country's only remaining oil refineries, face mounting pressure to justify public assistance while benefiting from elevated refining margins driven by Middle East conflict.
The request highlights a growing tension between corporate profitability and national energy security policy.
While wholesale crude costs have retreated from recent peaks, the divergence between input costs and retail gasoline prices has allowed refiners to capture record earnings.
Ampol and Viva Energy argue that without enhanced subsidies, the economic viability of domestic refining remains precarious, potentially forcing closures that would leave Australia entirely dependent on imported fuels.
This development adds a new layer to the ongoing debate over energy sector support in Australia.