Overview
- Firefighters brought the blaze at Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery under control, and the plant is running at reduced capacity with diesel and jet fuel still being produced, officials said.
- The refinery is one of only two large plants in Australia and supplies more than half of Victoria’s fuel and about 10% of national demand.
- Early findings point to a technical fault that ignited flammable gases and liquids, and investigators are still assessing how much damage the site sustained.
- The disruption adds pressure to already tight jet fuel supplies that have led Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia to pare some domestic flights.
- Authorities reported no immediate risk to the public but advised nearby residents to keep windows closed as crews cooled gas equipment and monitored the site.