Major fire at Geelong oil refinery threatens Australia's petrol supplies

A major fire broke out at Viva Energy's Corio oil refinery in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, just before midnight on April 15, 2026.

The blaze was caused by equipment failure and has led to a partial shutdown of the facility, impacting petrol production amid a global fuel crunch.

Emergency crews responded quickly to reports of explosions and flames at the refinery, which produces about 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

The facility supplies 50% of Victoria's fuel and 10% of Australia's total fuel demand.

No injuries have been reported, and all workers on site were safely evacuated.

However, the fire continues to burn, prompting warnings about air quality in the surrounding area.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the timing of the fire was "not great" given Australia's fuel supplies are already under pressure due to the ongoing global oil crisis triggered by the war in Iran.

He confirmed that petrol production will be impacted for some time.

The refinery remains partially operational, with jet fuel and diesel production continuing at reduced levels as a safety precaution.

Two petrol production units have been affected, while other units remain undamaged.

Viva Energy's chief executive Scott Wyatt stated that ensuring the site's safety is the primary focus before increasing production again.

Fire Rescue Victoria confirmed that the fire is contained within a section of the plant but remains difficult to extinguish due to extreme heat and a leaking LPG tower.

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