Albanese will travel to Kuala Lumpur and Bandar Seri Begawan from April 14 to 17, his office said in a statement on Sunday.

He is scheduled to meet Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Foreign minister Penny Wong would also meet her counterparts in Brunei and Malaysia, the statement said.

“Engaging with critical regional partners such as Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia will help ensure Australia’s energy supply remains secure during times of uncertainty,” Albanese said.

“We are taking every step to reinforce relationships and engage with key partners to keep our fuel supply flowing.”

The trip comes as Australia leans on its Asian allies to maintain fuel supplies amid disruptions caused by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas transited before the conflict.

Australia, which imports about 80% of its fuel, has experienced localised shortages and soaring prices since the strait’s closure.

Malaysia is Australia’s third-largest source of refined fuel and supplies 10% of its fertiliser-grade urea imports, while Australia supplies 95% of Malaysia’s imported natural gas.

Brunei supplies 9% of Australia’s diesel imports and 11% of its fertiliser-grade urea imports.

The government has held talks on fuel with Malaysia, Brunei, China, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea, among others.

Albanese also travelled to Singapore last week and met prime minister Lawrence Wong on Friday, with the two leaders agreeing to closer cooperation to ensure energy security.