{"id":83586,"date":"2026-04-25T22:16:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T22:16:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/83586\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T22:16:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T22:16:28","slug":"long-held-bitumen-standards-waived-after-supply-caught-in-strait-of-hormuz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/83586\/","title":{"rendered":"Long-held bitumen standards waived after supply caught in Strait of Hormuz"},"content":{"rendered":"

From remote regions to the city, Australia is connected by half a million kilometres of bitumen, enough to lap Earth 12 times.<\/p>\n

Australia’s supply of “the black stuff” is caught up in Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, causing supply shortages and bitumen prices to double<\/a> across the country.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

Tankers have been left stranded, with Iran threatening to attack ships in the strait.\u00a0 (Reuters: Benoit Tessier)<\/p>\n

“Along with the fuel crisis, we’ve got a bitumen crisis,” said Tony Aloisio, chief executive of the Australian Flexible Pavement Association (AfPA), which represents Australia’s bitumen workforce.<\/p>\n

“Unlike diesel, there’s no great reserve of bitumen sitting in Australia that can just fill the breach,” he said.<\/p>\n

Iran war live updates:<\/a> For the latest news on the Middle East crisis, read our blog.<\/p>\n

In normal times, Australia imports its bitumen, a by-product of crude, from Asian refineries in Singapore, Thailand and South Korea.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Tony Aloisio represents the bitumen supply workforce from importers and producers to spray seal operators and line markers. (Supplied: AfPA)<\/p>\n

“Those refineries are unable to get their crude from the Middle East and can’t supply the Australian market \u2026 so we had to immediately start looking elsewhere,” Mr Aloisio said.<\/p>\n

Geelong’s Viva Energy is Australia’s only bitumen producer, contributing to one-fifth of the nation’s supply, but last week’s fire at the oil refinery<\/a> further tightened the bitumen supply crunch.<\/p>\n

The AfPA has secured alternative bitumen from Venezuela and the US, with moves being made to change state and territory road regulations to allow its use in spray seals for road surfacing before it reaches Australian shores.<\/p>\n

\"Daytime<\/p>\n

Geelong’s Viva Energy is Australia’s only bitumen producer, contributing to one-fifth of the nation’s supply. (ABC News: Tara Whitchurch)<\/p>\n

According to Michael Caltabiano, National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) chief executive, Australia has 30 days’ worth of bitumen before tankers start to dry up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The new supply is to a US or British standard,” Mr Caltabiano said, “which is different to Australian standards”.<\/p>\n

The new bitumen is what’s known as Class 240 (C240) bitumen.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Michael Caltabiano says Class 240 bitumen is harder than Australians are used to. (ABC News: Callum Finn)<\/p>\n

“That bitumen is harder and more viscous than what Australian drivers are used to,” he said.<\/p>\n

The AfPA said the move was a temporary fix to keep the nation’s bitumen supply moving.<\/p>\n

“I think the urgency of the situation we’re in requires an urgent resolution,” Mr Catlabiano said.<\/p>\n

“If we don’t resolve this crisis in the next 30 to 60 days we’ll be in big trouble.”<\/p>\n

The ABC understands Queensland is the first jurisdiction to allow the use of C240 bitumen as a temporary measure for its spray seals, with the other state and territories to follow suit before ships reach shore.<\/p>\n

\"CoolSeal<\/p>\n

Ninety-five per cent of Australia is paved with Class 170 bitumen, with the exception of cooler climates in the NSW highlands. (Supplied: City of Charles Sturt)<\/p>\n

“Those ships should arrive in the next 30 days,” Mr Caltabiano said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What’s the difference between C170 and C240 bitumen?<\/p>\n

Since the 1970s, Australian roads have been paved with Class 170 (C170) bitumen \u2014 a standard that has persisted despite an extensive review of road quality controls over the past decade.<\/p>\n

“We’re a very sun-intensive nation and bitumen oxidises quickly under our natural conditions,” Mr Caltabiano said.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Australia’s high temperatures and intense UV rays cause premature aging of bitumen, making road surfaces prone to cracking. (ABC News: Jenae Madden)<\/p>\n

The C170 is “viscoelastic,” meaning the bitumen softens in Australia’s extreme heat. Whereas C240 bitumen is thicker and harder, “so it won’t last as long”, Mr Caltabiano said.<\/p>\n

Roads in Australia typically have a service life of 10 years, depending on climate and road use. The NTRO says C240 bitumen will reduce that by some 30 per cent.<\/p>\n

“We’ll have a problem in six or seven years when we’ll need to repair roads earlier than our traditional supply lines,” Mr Caltabiano said.<\/p>\n

“The work needs to be done now to understand when that critical moment is, when that cracking will occur.”<\/p>\n

Tony Aloisio said C240 bitumen would keep Australia’s roadworks industry moving and mean major national projects such as the Bruce Highway repairs in Queensland<\/a> could continue.<\/p>\n

“I’m very confident [C240 bitumen] will perform to the standards that are required,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The only change will be the durability in the long-term.”\"A<\/p>\n

In Australia, producers mix in additives to bitumen like crumbed rubber to make it stronger and longer lasting. (ABC News: Tilda Colling)<\/p>\n

Councils fear rising road maintenance costs<\/p>\n

Local councils in Australia are responsible for managing and maintaining about 75 per cent of the national road network.<\/p>\n

The NTRO says they will need to be supported as C240 bitumen is rolled out across the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Workers<\/p>\n

Local councils are responsible for maintaining about 75 per cent of the national road network. (ABC News: Sam Parry)<\/p>\n

“They will need to begin the conversation with the state and federal governments to get ready for that seven or eight [year] repair cycle,” Mr Caltabiano said.<\/p>\n

Australian Local Government Association president Matt Burnett said councils were already really struggling to maintain roads, so “anything” entailing more maintenance and more costs was going to be a big issue for more regional and remote councils.<\/p>\n

“The further away from capital cities you go, the more a difference in road quality will have, because of the sheer tyranny of distance,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Flooding in outback South Australia has caused major damage to the Flinders Ranges Council road network. (ABC North and West: Jenae Madden)<\/p>\n

In the Flinders Ranges in outback South Australia, roads are still damaged from drought-breaking floods<\/a> in February and March.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Council chief executive Sean Holden said a change in bitumen was a concern for remote parts of the country from both a safety perceptive and the longevity of roads.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Sean Holden says councils cannot afford any increase in costs. (ABC News: Jenae Madden)<\/p>\n

“If we’re to maintain these roads and construct these roads with an inferior compound that means we’re going to be paying more earlier and that’s going to make it really difficult,” he said.<\/p>\n

“We just hope this isn’t a cost shift to local government because, quite frankly, we can’t afford that.”<\/p>\n

Mr Caltabiano said it was promising that Australia was entering the cooler months when roadworks slowed down.<\/p>\n

\"Workers<\/p>\n

More remote councils will be impacted by the change to bitumen standards. (ABC News: Sam Parry)<\/p>\n

“Come September, October we’d like to hope the oil crisis resolves and we are \u2026 back to normal flows because the summer is a really intensive time for road maintenance in Australia,” he said.<\/p>\n

In a statement, a spokesperson for Transport Minister Catherine King said, “The Australian government is working closely with states and territories and industry representatives on the impact the Middle East conflict is having on supply chains, including for bitumen and other materials used in road construction and maintenance.”<\/p>\n

The South Australia’s Department of Infrastructure and Transport spokesperson said it had been working with the AfPA regarding bitumen impacts from the crisis in the Middle East. It said there had been no shortage in supply of bitumen in South Australia and it would continue to monitor market conditions.<\/p>\n

The NTRO said Australia would begin using C240 bitumen in the next 30 days and supply was secured until early June.<\/p>\n

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