Updated April 16, 2026 — 8:02am,first published 5:55am
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An out-of-control fire continues to burn at a Geelong refinery that is one of two in Australia, supplying 50 per cent of Victoria’s and 10 per cent of Australia’s fuel.
The blaze at the Viva Energy Refinery in Corio broke out just after 11pm Wednesday, triggering explosions and sending a cloud of toxic smoke towards Geelong.
Emergency calls to fire authorities reported explosions and flames at the refinery, which can process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day, according to Viva’s website.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen confirmed the fire would impact petrol production at the refinery.
“At this point, production of jet fuel and diesel is continuing at the refinery at reduced levels for safety reasons as a precaution. At this point, the impact is mainly on petrol production, but obviously, this is very early days,” Bowen told Nine’s Today this morning.
“We’re working closely with the company, and we’ll get further information. The fire is not yet under control, so there’s still some way to go,” he said.
“This is not a positive development, but obviously, there’s a long way to go in terms of working out just what the impact is. Our advice remains to people: buy as much fuel as you need, no more, no less.”
The minister said the facility would “take some time to repair” and that production had been reduced as a precautionary measure.
Speaking just before 7am, Fire Rescue Victoria assistant chief fire officer Mick McGuinness said about 50 firefighting vehicles are fighting the blaze in the Mogas plant section of the refinery, adding that some flames were up to 60 metres in height.
After firefighters managed to contain the blaze to an area measuring about 30 metres by 30 metres, the fire could burn for another three or four hours, he said.
Smoke rises from the Viva Energy oil refinery in Geelong about 7.30am on Thursday.Nine News
“The fire is mainly being fed by various types of hydrocarbon fuel, so predominantly liquid petrol … and also some gas and vapours,” McGuinness told ABC radio.
The refinery’s sensors were damaged so it was unclear how much fuel remained to keep the fire burning, he said.
A warning was issued for dozens of suburbs just after 2am when a wind change blew toxic smoke from the blaze towards Geelong. Thousands of residents were told to close their doors and windows, and turn off their heating and cooling systems.
The warning area was downgraded shortly before 5.30am and contained to the suburbs of Corio, Norlane and North Shore, which directly surround the fire. There is no threat to the public.
Thursday’s blaze adds to concerns about Australia’s fuel supplies amid the ongoing global energy crisis.
Another major refinery in Texas also happened to be engulfed in flames on March 23, just as Donald Trump’s war against Iran led to the Islamic Republic closing the Strait of Hormuz and caused oil prices to spike dramatically.
On Monday, Bowen said Australia’s fuel reserves stood at 38 days of petrol, 28 days of jet fuel and 31 days of diesel.
Meanwhile, the war in the Middle East rages on. The US president this week implemented a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in an attempt to force Iran into letting oil ships through.
The Geelong refinery engulfed in flames on Thursday was built by Shell, dates back to 1954, and employs more than 1100 people.
There are no reports of injuries.
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