Australia's reliance on imported fuel has increased following a fire at the Viva Energy refinery in Geelong, with Energy Minister Chris Bowen describing the incident as a setback. The blaze, which broke out late Wednesday night, is believed to have been caused by a gas leak from a mechanical component, according to incident controller Anthony Pearce of Fire Rescue Victoria.
Pearce praised the efforts of Viva Energy firefighters who managed to contain the fire, noting that explosions occurred during the early stages. He said there remains a significant amount of flammable material in the affected area, and crews are working to isolate it to prevent further ignitions. The rest of the plant continues to operate.
The fire has reduced Australia's domestic fuel production capacity, making the country more dependent on imports. Bowen warned that the incident would have implications for fuel supply, though he declined to speculate on potential fuel restrictions. Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan also urged against unfounded speculation about stage 3 fuel restrictions.
