Significant fire breaks out at Australian oil refinery
A late-night fire at Viva Energy Group's Geelong refinery in southern Australia has triggered an emergency response, with local authorities describing the incident as "significant" as crews work to bring the blaze under control.
A late-night fire at Viva Energy Group’s Geelong refinery in southern Australia has triggered an emergency response, with local authorities describing the incident as “significant” as crews work to bring the blaze under control.
The full scale of the damage was not immediately known. Fire Rescue Victoria said in a statement that the fire was reported at about 11 p.m. local time today. The agency said the blaze was still not under control, but confirmed that all staff had been accounted for.
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Emergency crews were sent to the refinery in Corio, in Victoria state, after multiple callers reported explosions and visible flames, according to the statement.
The refinery is capable of processing as much as 120,000 barrels of oil a day, the company’s website says.
Viva Energy Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Australia has been grappling with fuel security concerns since Iran all but closed the Strait of Hormuz following attacks by the US and Israel.
Last month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would cut the excise on fuel and diesel by half and suspend the heavy road user charge for three months, measures aimed at helping households manage a sharp rise in costs tied to the Iran war.