Summary
A major fire at Australia's Viva Corio oil refinery has reduced fuel production but will not cause fuel rationing, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. The refinery makes a significant portion of the state's and country’s fuel, and the government is working to manage fuel supply and prices.
Key Facts
- A fire at Viva's Corio refinery near Geelong started just before midnight Wednesday and burned for 13 hours.
- The refinery produces about 50% of the state's fuel and 10% of Australia's fuel.
- The fire was caused by equipment failure.
- Currently, 80% of diesel and aviation fuel production continues, and 60% of petrol production is ongoing.
- Australia is at stage two of a four-level fuel security plan; stage three involves possible fuel rationing, which is not planned now.
- Prime Minister Albanese returned early from a trip to visit the refinery and secure more oil supplies.
- Australia relies heavily on imported refined fuels and recently secured an extra 100 million liters of diesel from Brunei and South Korea.
- The prime minister expressed a desire for Australia to have more of its own oil refineries.
