Viva Energy Geelong oil refinery fire: Chris Bowen, CEO confirms fuel production impacted

Firefighters are responding to a “significant” blaze at Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery after emergency services received multiple reports of explosions late on Wednesday night.

Fire Rescue Victoria crews were called to the Corio facility about 11pm following calls describing flames and loud blasts at the major fuel site.

Authorities reported that a gas leak was detected before an explosion occurred, prompting an immediate emergency response and evacuation of workers from the affected section of the refinery.

It has been confirmed that the fire was not yet under control when emergency teams arrived, all workers on site have been accounted for, and no injuries have been reported.

Fire Rescue Victoria Assistant Chief Fire Officer Michael McGuinness said the blaze was still burning on Thursday morning but had been contained to an area measuring about 30 metres by 30 metres.

Around 50 firefighters and 10 trucks remain on scene using large volumes of water to cool surrounding infrastructure and prevent the fire from spreading to highly flammable liquids and gases within the refinery.

Isolation valves have been activated as a precaution to limit fuel flow to the impacted section of the plant.

Specialised fixed monitors operated remotely through camera systems are being used to fight the fire, allowing crews to respond from a safer distance due to the volatile conditions.

Mr McGuinness described the incident as a ferocious blaze involving several explosions, with emergency services mounting an intense response to bring the situation under control.

Authorities estimate it could take between four and five hours before the fire is fully contained.

Initial indications suggest a gas leak was detected before an explosion occurred, allowing workers to evacuate safely before the fire intensified.

FRV deputy commissioner Michelle Cowling said the fire was caused by “an equipment failure in the refinery”.

“Viva is looking into that,” she told ABC Radio Melbourne.

Investigations into the cause of the incident have not yet begun.

Mr McGuinness said the refinery is subject to ongoing maintenance and regulatory oversight, and the age of the facility is not currently considered a contributing factor.

Smoke was still visible rising from the refinery on Thursday morning as authorities continued to assess the extent of the damage, which remains unclear.

Labor responds as fuel supply threatened

Energy Minister Chris Bowen confirmed the incident would affect supply from one of Australia’s two remaining oil refineries, with early indications pointing to disruption to petrol production.

“Petrol, high octane petrol – in particular diesel and jet fuel – continues to be produced at the refinery. But obviously I’ve been talking to the Chief Executive over the last several hours and will continue to talk to him today to get better assessments. As you’d understand that it’s very early in terms of assessments on production,” he told Sunrise.

“It will impact on production at this point, petrol rather than diesel and jet fuel. But we’re going to continue to really work closely with Viva, the company, and really monitor and work together on any impacts.”

Mr Bowen confirmed reports that the blaze broke out in the section of the facility responsible for producing motor gasoline.

Viva Energy CEO speaks out

Viva Energy chief executive Scott Wyatt said the fire had affected the refinery’s motor gasoline production unit, commonly referred to as the mogas plant.

Mr Wyatt indicated the facility had been operating at full capacity prior to the incident, but is now running at minimum rates and will only increase output once it is safe to do so.

He confirmed petrol production had been impacted, while aviation gasoline output may also be affected. Diesel and jet fuel production have been reduced as a precaution.

Mr Wyatt said recent maintenance planning had been delayed to prioritise maximising diesel production due to supply pressures linked to the Middle East conflict, but the incident was not related to that delayed maintenance work.

The Geelong refinery is one of Australia’s most critical fuel production facilities, supplying more than half of Victoria’s fuel and about 10 per cent of the nation’s total supply, according to Viva Energy.

‘Going to have an impact’

Located in Corio, the refinery employs more than 1100 workers and has the capacity to process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

Speaking from Corio on Sunrise, plant worker and AMWU member Tony Hines said between 30 and 40 staff were likely on site when the fire broke out late on Wednesday night and warned the damage could take weeks to repair.

“We just don’t know at the moment because, they’re saying at the moment everything’s all shut down. A few units are running. But again, it is a crucial part of the ‘Mogas’ area of the refinery. So it’s going to have an impact, no doubt about it,” he told Seven’s Sunrise.

“Yeah it’d be weeks at a minimum.”

AWU Victorian branch president Ross Kenna said the blaze appeared to have affected the refinery’s ‘mogas’ section, a key part of the fuel production process, meaning some loss of capacity was likely.

“This part of the plant, they send a lot of different fuel through to refine. So everything’s linked together. So different fuels create different fuels. This is a critical part of the refinery. So we do think it will reduce capacity,” he said.

The incident comes amid heightened concern about global fuel supply following escalating tensions in the Middle East, including disruption to shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.