Viva Energy Geelong refinery fire in Corio sparks emergency response at key Victoria fuel supply facility

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

Authorities said 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.

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

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 the blaze broke out in the section of the facility responsible for producing motor gasoline.

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.

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.

The Nightly has contacted Viva Energy for comment.