Major Blaze at Viva Energy's Geelong Oil Refinery Extinguished After 13 Hours
An explosive fire at the Viva Energy oil refinery in Geelong, which supplies half of Victoria's fuel and 10% of Australia's, has been extinguished after burning for 13 hours. The blaze broke out at the facility in Corio just after 11pm on Wednesday, with Fire Rescue Victoria responding to multiple emergency calls reporting explosions and flames.
The fire was declared under control shortly after 12pm on Thursday, though petrol production continues to be affected and authorities warn the full extent of damage remains unknown. No injuries were reported, but residents were initially advised to shelter indoors during the incident.
Investigation Underway into Equipment Failure
Fire Rescue Victoria stated the blaze appears to have been caused by an equipment failure, likely a leak or valve malfunction within the Mogas (motor gas) section of the refinery. FRV deputy commissioner Michelle Cowling confirmed a thorough investigation is underway involving WorkSafe, Victoria Police, and Viva Energy.
"It was an equipment failure in the refinery, Viva is looking into that," Cowling said. "There'll be a thorough investigation into the failure and how this fire started."
Firefighters remain on scene monitoring the situation and working with Viva Energy to ensure safe operation of the site.
Fuel Supply Concerns and Government Response
The fire has raised concerns about fuel security, with the refinery capable of processing approximately 120,000 barrels of oil daily. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen confirmed petrol, diesel, and jet fuel continue to be produced at reduced levels as a safety precaution.
"I'm sure that petrol production will continue but it may be impacted for some time," Bowen told ABC News Breakfast, acknowledging the incident comes at a sensitive time for fuel security.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking from Malaysia, described the fire as "very distressing" and acknowledged there would be "consequences for fuel supply." He confirmed the government is working to source additional supplies from overseas.
Environmental and Safety Assessments
Authorities have stressed that hazardous materials teams have detected no contaminants in air or water tests. An Environment Protection Authority pollution response unit was deployed to the refinery, and the public threat alert was lifted with residents advised they could resume normal activities.
Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj described the fire as "unprecedented" in scale, while Viva Energy CEO Scott Wyatt emphasized safety as the immediate priority over production considerations.
"We'll only start increasing production again once we're confident we can do that safely," Wyatt said, noting the fire affected the petrol area of the plant.
Union and Industry Perspectives
Ronnie Hayden, state secretary of the Victorian branch of the Australian Workers' Union, reported that between 50 and 100 workers were on site when the fire broke out, with evacuation procedures executed successfully.
"These guys have been highly trained in emergency response and emergency evacuation, and I think that's the main reason why there were no fatalities," Hayden said.
He added that the 70-year-old facility requires regular maintenance and suggested production could be affected for several days or longer while damage assessments are completed.
Contrasting Views on Fuel Restrictions
Energy analyst Gero Farruggio of Rystad Energy called for stage-three fuel restrictions to secure supplies, while Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan cautioned against such measures, stating they create "stress and uncertainty."
State Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio maintained there would be "no immediate impact on fuel supply" and noted petrol is currently the easiest fuel type to source globally.
The incident highlights Australia's ongoing fuel security challenges, with the Geelong refinery being one of only two remaining oil refineries in the country. Full restoration of operations will depend on comprehensive safety assessments and repair work following the extensive fire damage.
