Geelong Refinery Fire Extinguished After 13-Hour Battle
Firefighters have successfully extinguished a major blaze at Viva Energy's Corio refinery near Geelong, Victoria, after a grueling 13-hour battle against flames that reportedly reached 100 meters into the air. The fire, which began just after 11pm on Wednesday, was declared under control by midday Thursday, with Fire Rescue Victoria deputy commissioner Michelle Cowling describing the firefighting effort as "quite remarkable."
Production Continues Despite Significant Damage
Viva Energy executives confirmed that despite the extensive fire damage, the refinery continues to produce fuel at what they describe as "pretty decent rates." Bill Patterson, Viva Energy's executive general manager of energy and infrastructure, stated that the facility is still manufacturing petrol, diesel, and jet fuel, though the full extent of damage remains under assessment.
"We're still making petrol, diesel and jet fuel at pretty decent rates, so it hasn't been a very large impact at this stage," Patterson said during a Thursday afternoon briefing. The refinery typically processes approximately 120,000 barrels of oil daily, according to company information.
Investigation Underway as Officials Visit Site
Energy Minister Chris Bowen acknowledged the fire was "clearly not a good development" but expressed confidence that disruptions would be minimal. Both Bowen and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are scheduled to visit the site on Friday, with Albanese cutting short a fuel security visit to Malaysia to assess the situation firsthand.
Bowen emphasized that production wouldn't cease entirely at the Geelong facility, noting that Viva Energy believes it can replace any impacted production with imports if necessary. "We don't know exactly what the impact on petrol production will be," Bowen admitted. "To be fair to everyone, we're still assessing the damage."
Cause Remains Unknown, Safety Concerns Addressed
The fire originated in the Mogas (motor gas) section of the refinery, which processes LPG into gasoline-type molecules for fuel blending and specialty products. While the exact cause remains under investigation, both company officials and government representatives have indicated no evidence of sabotage or maintenance-related issues.
Viva Energy chief executive Scott Wyatt emphasized that safety remains the immediate priority over production considerations. "We'll only start increasing production again once we're confident we can do that safely," Wyatt stated.
Community Concerns and Union Perspectives
Local residents expressed frustration about not receiving emergency text messages during the incident, with community meetings scheduled to address these concerns. Meanwhile, union representatives noted that while the 70-year-old facility had experienced maintenance issues in the past, recent years have shown significant improvement.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union organizer Tony Hynds commented, "Some years ago...it was a big concern, and we had numerous incidents, it was shocking really, but in the last five to six years it's certainly improved."
Global Fuel Crisis Context
The incident occurs against the backdrop of a persistent global fuel crisis, though Viva Energy had previously indicated it was not reliant on Middle Eastern supplies despite conflicts in the region. The company's ability to maintain production comes as some relief amid ongoing fuel security concerns.
As smoke cleared from the site on Thursday afternoon, visible blackening on refinery stacks served as a reminder of the intense blaze, while internal damage assessment continues. Patterson acknowledged the challenging circumstances, stating, "It was a difficult night and it will be a difficult time to come for people," referring to both emergency responders and those affected by the incident.
