SYDNEY, March 22 (Reuters) - Australia's fuel supply

remains strong and there are no immediate plans to ration fuel

to manage the impact of the Iran war on the nation's supply

chain, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said on Sunday.

Australia, which imports about 90% of its fuel, has

experienced localised shortages as the escalating U.S.-Israeli

war disrupts supply.

The nation has 38 days' worth of petrol and 30 days of

diesel and jet fuel, Bowen said in televised remarks, citing

data from Saturday. Supply remains strong despite the

cancellation of six fuel shipments from Asia, he said.

"While we are dealing with an uncertainty, we still have two

refineries working full pelt. It would be better if we had more,

sure, but we do have two, and we also have the boats continuing

to arrive," he said.

Asked about whether the centre-left government would

consider using emergency powers to ration fuel, Bowen said,

"We're a long way from that".

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese again urged Australians not

to panic-buy fuel amid shortages in some rural areas.

"People need to engage responsibly, and I'm sure that

overwhelmingly that's what Australians will do," Albanese said,

according to an official transcript.

Albanese said last week his government would roll out

additional measures to safeguard fuel supply, appointing Anthea

Harris, the former boss of the Australian Energy Regulator, as

head of a national fuel supply task force to tackle shortages

and improve the domestic fuel supply chain.