Business · Energy & Commodities · 8 hrs ago
Geelong refinery recovers after fire as Australia weighs its fuel security
The Viva Energy refinery in Geelong makes petrol, diesel and aviation fuel.
Australia once had eight refineries, but only two remain, making the Geelong plant important to the country’s fuel supply.
On April 15, a fire broke out in its petrol-processing complex, but emergency crews contained it and nobody was injured.
Seven months later, the refinery is producing about 90 per cent of its pre-fire capacity while workers remove damaged machinery and engineers use rerouted gas systems.
Viva Energy is negotiating with the Albanese government over arrangements that could keep the refinery operating until 2040.
A global energy crisis sparked by war in the Middle East has brought renewed attention to fuel security and the role of Australia’s remaining refineries.
A fire at Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery on April 15 damaged its petrol-processing complex and threatened Australia’s fuel security.
Seven months later, the refinery was producing about 90 per cent of its pre-fire capacity.
Workers were dismantling damaged machinery, while Viva Energy executives negotiated with the Albanese government over arrangements that could secure the refinery’s operation until 2040.
The Geelong site is one of only two remaining oil refineries in Australia, which once had eight.
A global energy crisis sparked by war in the Middle East has brought renewed attention to the role of Australia’s remaining refiners.
- Who
- Viva Energy and its Geelong refinery, alongside the Albanese government. The refinery is one of two remaining in Australia.
- What
- A fire damaged the refinery’s petrol-processing complex; the site has since recovered to about 90 per cent of its pre-fire capacity.
- When
- The fire broke out at about 11.15pm on April 15. The report was published on November 10, 2026, and says the refinery was at about 90 per cent capacity seven months after the fire.
- Where
- Viva Energy’s refinery at Corio, in Geelong, Victoria.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Fire erupted in the refinery’s alkylation unit, and emergency crews isolated the blaze.
The refinery was producing about 90 per cent of its pre-fire capacity, while workers dismantled damaged machinery.
Viva Energy executives were negotiating with the Albanese government over arrangements that could secure the refinery’s operation until 2040.
- Refinery
- Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery at Corio, Victoria
- Fire
- April 15, at about 11.15pm
- Recovery
- About 90 per cent of pre-fire capacity seven months later
- Australian refineries
- Two remain; Australia once operated eight
- Potential operating arrangements
- Could secure the refinery’s operation until 2040
What people are saying
We’re now much more appreciated for the role we play in energy security
They really did an amazing job just containing it
It was bad, obviously, but it could have been much worse.
If it had spread, we might not be doing this tour today.