The fire, at Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery – one of only two remaining in Australia after six others
were closed down – is “not under control”, according to Fire Rescue Victoria.

The factory is based in a town called Corio, outside Geelong, and supplies around 10 percent of
Australia’s fuel. Importantly however, that site produces around 50 percent of the fuel supplied to
the state of Victoria.

The incident is expected to have an impact on fuel supply in Australia, particularly for high-octane fuels. AMWU member Tony Hines said on Channel 7’s Sunrise program he expected the facility to be hampered for “weeks at a minimum”.

The fire broke out around 11pm on Wednesday night, and Fire Rescue Victoria told the ABC, that
“firefighters arrived on scene to find a significant fire impacting the refinery”. The spokesperson did
go on to say that all staff had been accounted for but the incident was not yet under control.

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Victoria Police said in a statement that emergency services had responded to “a large fire at a
refinery, and investigations into the cause of the fire will take place”.

The refinery, now owned by Viva Energy and once owned and operated by Shell can process up to
120,000 barrels of oil each day, with fuel, jet fuel and LPG produced. It’s proximity to Avalon airport
was vital to production of jet fuel for the airport.

Six other refineries have been shuttered over the last decade, with Lytton in Queensland the only
other refinery – and Australia’s largest – still currently operating. Viva’s website claims production of
aviation fuel, bitumen, marine, mining, oil and gas, transport, solvents and defence as the many
areas the refinery supports.

Energy minister Chris Bowen told Seven’s Sunrise breakfast program that the fire would likely impact Australia’s production of high-octane petrol.

“Diesel and jet fuel continue to be produced at the refinery,” he said.