A fire at Australia’s main oil refinery has affected gasoline production, authorities said on Thursday, as emergency crews worked to extinguish the flames.
Firefighters were battling a fire at Viva Energy’s gasoline production unit at the Geelong refinery in Victoria state, which processes crude oil to produce gasoline. There were no reports of injuries in the fire, which was called around 11:15 pm on Wednesday (15), local time, Victoria Fire Department deputy chief Michael McGuinness said.
The incident comes as Australia seeks to bolster the security of fuel supplies amid global supply disruptions due to the Strait of Hormuz and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which have led to panic buying of gasoline and diesel in the country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Malaysia this Thursday to discuss the deal with regional allies.
Viva Energy CEO Scott Wyatt told reporters the main focus was to completely extinguish the fire that ripped through operations at two units of the refinery, before assessing damage at the site and safely restoring production.
The Geelong refinery, located about an hour’s drive from Melbourne, can process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day and supplies more than half of Victoria’s fuel needs and 10% of Australia’s total demand.
What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz?
Since the start of the US and Israeli war against Iran on February 28, Tehran has restricted passage for almost all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, saying navigation would only be permitted under Iranian control and upon payment of a fee.
The maritime route is one of the most important in the world, through which almost a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes.
After the failed negotiation attempt aimed at ending the war between the US and Iran, President Donald Trump announced that American forces would block the entry and exit of ships from Iranian ports, including the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran threatened to target warships crossing the strait and retaliate against the ports of its Gulf neighbors following the American blockade announcement.
Meanwhile, a two-week ceasefire remains in effect in the Middle East region, with the US-Israel bombing campaign against Tehran suspended.
