Firefighters are responding to a “significant” blaze at Viva Energy Group’s Geelong refinery after emergency services received multiple reports of explosions late on Wednesday night.
Fire Rescue Victoria confirmed crews were called to the refinery at Corio about 11pm following calls describing flames and loud blasts at the major fuel facility.
Authorities said the fire was not yet under control when emergency teams arrived, all staff at the site had been accounted for.
The scale of the damage was not immediately known.
The Geelong refinery is one of Australia’s most critical fuel production sites, supplying more than half of Victoria’s fuel and around 10 per cent of the nation’s total supply, according to Viva Energy.
Located in Corio, the refinery employs more than 1100 workers and has the capacity to process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day.
The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The incident comes amid heightened concern about global fuel supply following escalating tensions in the Middle East, including disruption to shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
More to come…
