Australian billionaire Adrian Portelli is set to open the first location of his own chain of service stations within two weeks, amid a severe fuel crisis in Australia. The 36-year-old announced the venture as an extension of his subscription-based rewards club, LMCT+, in December 2025, months before conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused fuel prices to double and some stations to run dry.
Portelli's first service station, a conversion from a Shell site on the corner of Gower Street and Plenty Road in Preston, about 10km north of Melbourne's CBD, will offer discounted fuel exclusively to LMCT+ members. In a recent update, Portelli wrote: 'The final two-week countdown! It genuinely is surreal seeing this come to life and I got emotional seeing that LMCT+ logo hanging loud and proud!' He also confirmed that the station would stock E85, which has been in short supply due to the conflict.
The move has been met with both praise and criticism. Hundreds of Australians applauded Portelli's decision, with some joking that his ability to find fuel in a shortage was better than that of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. However, others expressed concerns about the integration of gambling into the service stations, as LMCT+ is best known for its lotteries. Photos show an on-site 'Rewards Hub', prompting one critic to say: 'Can we not bring gambling into every aspect of our lives? Exposing our kids to a chance to win at every opportunity is a real bad idea.'
Portelli, who has an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion, made his fortune through LMCT+, property investment, and a supercar collection. A waitlist for LMCT+ fuel is available on the company's website, but an official opening date has yet to be confirmed.
