Fire at Domestic Refinery Worsens Australia's Fuel Supply Crisis
Australia's fuel crisis in the wake of the Iran war just took a turn for the worse after a fire broke out at one of the only two refineries in the country.
Viva Energy’s Corio oil refinery in Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, caught fire late on Wednesday, after reports of explosions. The fire was extinguished on Thursday morning local time after burning for about 13 hours.
The Corio refinery, one of Australia’s two remaining processing plants, supplies more than 50% of the fuel in the state of Victoria and 10% of Australia’s fuel. The refinery can process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day, manufacturing gasoline, diesel, LPG, jet fuel, avgas, and Low Aromatic Fuel.
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) said 50 firefighters worked to extinguish the “large and intense” blaze at the refinery.
According to FRV, an “equipment failure” was the reason for the blaze, while the fire was fueled by a “significant leak of liquid hydrocarbons and gases.”
Local authorities later said the leak was caused by the mechanical failure of a piece of equipment. Investigation into all the events that led to the large fire was still ongoing as of Thursday afternoon Melbourne time.
The fire impacted the production of gasoline, Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen said on Thursday afternoon, adding that jet fuel and diesel production continues at reduced levels as a precaution at this point.
“My message to Australians is that this is one part of the supply chain, we continue to make very good progress internationally” to procure fuel, Bowen said and warned against panic-buying.
Australia has moved to protect consumers from soaring fuel prices as a result of the war. Last month, the government halved the fuel excise on gasoline and diesel for three months in a bid to alleviate financial stress from spiking fuel prices.
The Federal Government on Thursday said it had secured approximately 100 million liters of additional diesel, with two shipments coming from Brunei and South Korea. This is the first of the expected shipments of fuel secured under the Government’s new Strategic Reserve powers.
“These cargoes are additional to existing contracted supply, are required to remain in Australia and will be directed to the industries and regions which need them the most,” Bowen said in a statement.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
Fire at one of Australia's two oil refineries to hit fuel output
16.04.2026, DPA
Photo: Jay Kogler/AAP/dpa
A major fire at one of Australia's two operational oil refineries was extinguished on Thursday after burning overnight, the fire service said, but concerns remained over possible disruption to petrol supplies.
Firefighters responded late on Wednesday after reports of explosions and flames at Viva Energy's refinery in Geelong, some 70 kilometres west of Melbourne, Fire Rescue Victoria said in a statement.
The fire at the MOGAS, or motor gasoline, unit was brought under control around 13 hours later, the fire service said. No injuries were reported.
Viva Energy says the refinery in Geelong, one of two remaining refineries in Australia, supplies over 50% of the fuel used in the state of Victoria and 10% of Australia's total fuel needs. The refinery can process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day.
It comes as Australia is already facing pressure on fuel supplies linked to the war in the Middle East.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen told public broadcaster ABC on Thursday morning that the main impact appeared to be on petrol production, while diesel and jet fuel were still being produced at reduced levels as a safety precaution.
"I'm sure petrol production will continue, but it may be impacted for some time obviously," the minister said, calling the fire "not great timing."
Incident Controller Anthony Pearce later told a press conference that the exact cause of the blaze was still being investigated, but confirmed there was a gas leak.
"There was a leak of gas from a mechanical component in the system," he said.
"The gas has then appeared to have ignited, but the details of the investigation will come to light in days to come."
Authorities said there had been no immediate danger to the public, though residents in the area were advised to keep their windows closed as a precaution. The full extent of the damage and any longer-term impact remain unclear.
Firefighters battle huge blaze at Australian oil refinery
The fire is burning out of control at the Geelong oil refinery, one of only two in Australia.
Firefighters are battling a major fire at one of Australia's two operating oil refineries.
The fire broke out just after 11 p.m. local time (1300 GMT/UTC) on Wednesday at the Viva Energy Group's refinery near Geelong in the Australian state of Victoria.
Fire Rescue Victoria said it responded after multiple reports of explosions and flames at the refinery in the industrial suburb of Corio.
"The fire is not yet under control although is currently contained to the plant," Fire Rescue Victoria said in a statement early Thursday local time.
It said the blaze involved "liquid fuels and gases."
It has told people in Geelong and the surrounding area to stay indoors, close windows and doors and turn off heating and cooling systems.
Some 300,000 people live in the port city, which is about an hour's drive from Melbourne.
All refinery staff were accounted for, Fire Rescue Victoria said, and there were no reported injuries.
Ronnie Hayden told Australia's national broadcaster ABC that about 100 staff members were working at the time. All of them escaped unhurt, he said.
The Country Fire Authority downgraded its threat alert on Thursday morning, saying that "the fire is still being fought by firefighters, but there is no threat to the public."
Geelong's Mayor Stretch Kontelj told ABC Radio Melbourne that the fire was "unprecedented" and would burn for some hours yet.
Australia has only two operational oil refineries
The Viva Energy refinery in Geelong one of two remaining refineries in Australia.
It supplies more than 50% of Victoria's and 10% of Australia's fuel, according to the refinery's website.
The refinery can process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day, the website says.
Australia has faced fuel security concerns since the Iran war all but closed the Strait of Hormuz.
It imports 90% of its refined fuel needs.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen told Australia's Nine News that the fire would mainly impact petrol production.
"At this point, production of jet fuel and diesel is continuing at the refinery at reduced levels for safety reasons as a precaution," he told the broadcaster on Thursday morning local time.
It appears to be an accident, he said, adding that there would be an investigation into the incident.
The Geelong refinery supplies a large proportion of jet fuel to Melbourne's Tullamarine airport.
Edited by: Sean Sinico
INDIA
At least 19 people died in Vedanta power plant blast
The death toll due to a boiler blast at Vedanta's power plant in central India has risen to 19, a police officer said on Wednesday, noting 17 others were injured.
"The death toll in the power plant blast has reached 19 whereas 17 are undergoing treatment in various hospitals," district police chief Praful Thakur told the AFP news agency.
The incident took place on Tuesday at Singhitarai, in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
Anil Agarwal, chairman of Vedanta Resources, said he was "distressed by the extremely tragic accident."
"A high-level investigation into this incident has been initiated... We will leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of this matter," he said in a statement.
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