The fire at Viva Energy's Corio refinery in Geelong, which sent flames 100 metres into the air, has been extinguished after 13 hours. Fire Rescue Victoria deputy commissioner Michelle Cowling praised firefighters for their skill in controlling the blaze, which broke out just after 11pm on Wednesday and was deemed under control by noon on Thursday.
Questions remain about the cause of the fire and its impact on Australia's fuel supply amid a global crisis. Energy minister Chris Bowen said the fire was 'not a good development' but expressed confidence that disruptions would be minimal, noting Viva could replace impacted petrol production with imports. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit the site on Friday after cutting short a fuel security trip to Malaysia.
Viva Energy executive general manager Bill Patterson stated the fire started in the Mogas section, used to combine LPG into gasoline-type molecules. He said the cause is under investigation but there is no indication of maintenance issues or increased production as factors. Bowen added there was 'no evidence' of sabotage, dismissing conspiracy theories.
Unions noted the refinery is 70 years old but said safety has improved in recent years. Viva CEO Scott Wyatt emphasised that site safety is the immediate priority. A community meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening to address residents' concerns, including why they were not alerted by text message.
