GEELONG: Towering columns of fire have engulfed a crucial Australian oil refinery after a chain of explosions, authorities said on Thursday (Apr 16) as they warned of disruptions to domestic fuel supply.
Flames as tall as 60m erupted late on Wednesday night after a gas leak caught fire at the Viva fuel plant in Victoria state, firefighters said, one of only two working oil refineries in Australia.
“The major impact at this point appears to be on petrol production,” Energy Minister Chris Bowen said.
“It’s not great. It’s not great timing, is it?” he told national broadcaster ABC.
The refinery, about an hour’s drive southwest of state capital Melbourne, pumps out about 10 per cent of Australia’s fuel, according to energy company Viva.
It is capable of producing up to 120,000 barrels of oil each day, company figures stated.
The fire ripped through a section of the refinery responsible for the production of high-octane petrol, Bowen said.
By triggering isolation valves, other parts of the plant producing jet fuel and diesel had been spared the worst of the blaze.
Images taken on Thursday morning showed thick clouds of smoke billowing over the industrial complex.
Geographically isolated and with only two oil refineries, Australia is heavily exposed to disruptions in global fuel supply and imports most of its petrol.
Bowen urged Australians to ignore the impulse to rush out and panic buy more fuel.
“It’s important that people buy as much fuel as they need. But no more, no less.”