A major fire broke out at Viva Energy's Corio refinery in Geelong, one of Australia's two remaining domestic oil refineries, causing concerns over fuel supplies. The blaze, which started just after 11pm, was extinguished by midday with no injuries reported.
The refinery produces 50% of Victoria's and 10% of Australia's fuel, making it a critical infrastructure asset. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen acknowledged the incident would impact supplies, but the full extent remains unclear pending a site assessment.
Fire Rescue Victoria reported that an equipment failure caused the fire in the 'mogas' section where motor gasoline is produced. Deputy Commissioner Michelle Cowling stated the fire did not affect diesel or gasoline production, but two units are offline.
Viva Energy CEO Scott Wyatt said the priority is safety before resuming production. Refinery manager Bill Patterson noted other units may compensate for the lost capacity. Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj described the fire as unprecedented, while Australian Workers Union branch secretary Ronnie Hayden said the site looked like a war zone.
