A major fire continues to burn at one of Australia’s key oil refineries, disrupting petrol production as emergency crews work to bring the situation under control.
According to a report by AAP, firefighters responded to the blaze at the Viva Energy Geelong refinery in Corio, about 60 km southwest of Melbourne, after receiving reports of explosions and flames shortly after 11 pm on Wednesday. The refinery, which supplies more than half of Victoria’s fuel and around 10% nationwide, faces operational disruption amid an ongoing global fuel crisis.
Fire Rescue Victoria confirms that the blaze remains uncontrolled but is contained within the section of the plant where it started. Chief Fire Officer Michael McGuinness states that the fire originated in an area involved in motor gasoline production, as reported by AAP.
"There's been some sort of leak, there's hydrocarbons, flammable liquids which very readily caught fire," he says on ABC.
"It was burning in an area of approximately 30 metres by 30 metres. There have been several small explosions," AAP has quoted.
Authorities report no injuries, and all workers and emergency personnel are accounted for. While Viva Energy informs officials that there is no immediate impact on overall fuel supply, government representatives indicate otherwise.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen confirms that petrol production has been affected, with reductions also seen in jet fuel and diesel output. "At this point, the impact is mainly on petrol production, but obviously, this is very early days," Bowen tells Nine’s Today program on Thursday.
He adds that the full extent of the damage is still uncertain. "The fire's not yet under control, so there's still some way to go. This is not a positive development, but obviously there's a long way to go in terms of working out just what the impact is," AAP has quoted.
The Geelong refinery, along with the Lytton Oil Refinery in Brisbane, remains one of only two facilities capable of refining fuel domestically in Australia. Both sites have recently drawn attention due to fuel security concerns linked to conflict in the Middle East.
Emergency alerts issued for nearby suburbs, including Corio, Norlane, and North Shore, are later downgraded to an advice level. Residents are urged to continue normal activities while remaining cautious of smoke, emergency operations, and possible traffic disruptions.
Authorities also advise residents to take precautions due to air quality concerns. "People in the surrounding areas are being advised to keep their windows closed due to the large amount of smoke," a Victoria Police spokesperson says, AAP has quoted.
Emergency services, including Fire Rescue Victoria specialists, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, the EPA, and WorkSafe, remain on-site conducting atmospheric monitoring and response operations. Investigations into the cause of the fire are expected to follow.
Viva Energy declines to comment on the incident.
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