A significant fire has erupted at a major oil refinery located in Victoria, Australia, with reports indicating that the smoke plume is visible over long distances. The incident took place at the Geelong Refinery in Corio, one of the country’s two remaining oil refineries. Emergency responders are currently on-site addressing the blaze that started around 11 pm local time.
The Geelong Refinery, managed by Viva Energy Australia, a key energy provider responsible for a quarter of Australia’s fuel supply, employs over 1,100 individuals. The facility plays a crucial role in supplying more than half of Victoria’s fuel and approximately 10% of the nation’s fuel, according to Viva Energy’s official website.
Victoria Police confirmed that emergency services received a large fire alert at the Geelong Refinery around 11 pm local time. Residents in the vicinity have been advised to stay indoors and shut their windows due to the heavy smoke in the area.
Covering a substantial amount of flammable fuel, the Geelong Refinery is classified as a “major hazard facility” by Viva Energy, emphasizing its commitment to safe operations. With a daily processing capacity of up to 120,000 barrels of oil, the refinery produces various fuels such as petrol, diesel, LPG, jet fuel, avgas, and low aromatic fuel.
VicEmergency, the official emergency information portal for Victoria, issued a Watch and Act warning for multiple suburbs near Geelong, including Corio, Norlane, North Geelong, and Newtown. The fire at the Geelong Refinery began shortly after 11 pm local time, with smoke spreading towards the northern parts of Geelong due to a change in wind direction.
Visuals depict flames and dense smoke emanating from the Geelong Refinery, situated in Corio near Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Originally established by Shell Australia in 1954, the refinery changed ownership to Vitol in 2014 as part of Royal Dutch Shell’s divestment strategy, subsequently coming under the operation of Viva Energy.
