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Massive fire at oil refinery in Australia/ Fears for gasoline supplies in the country

2026-04-16 07:26:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Massive fire at oil refinery in Australia/ Fears for gasoline supplies in the

A massive fire has broken out at one of Australia's two oil refineries, sparking fears for the country's gasoline supplies amid global disruptions caused by conflict in the Middle East.

The incident occurred at Viva Energy Group's Geelong refinery at around 11pm local time, with emergency crews arriving at the scene after reports of explosions.

No injuries have been reported, but the flames continue and authorities said smoke could affect some surrounding areas.

The facility, about 40 miles southwest of Melbourne, supplies more than half of Victoria's fuel and 10% of the country's. It produces up to 120,000 barrels of oil a day and employs more than 1,100 people.

Chris Bowen, Australia's energy minister, said the fire was not yet under control and added that there was still much work to be done. Jet fuel and diesel can still be produced at reduced levels as a safety precaution, but Bowen warned that gasoline production could be affected.

The incident comes as the country seeks to bolster its fuel supply to help ease disruptions and global oil prices resulting from Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has sparked panic buying at petrol pumps in Australia.

Last month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced temporary relief measures, which included halving fuel excise duty and suspending the hefty road user fee for three months, in an effort to help families cope with a surge in costs caused by the war in Iran. /CNA





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