AWU Members Safe Following Geelong Refinery Blaze

The Australian Workers’ Union Victoria Branch has confirmed all members working at the Viva Energy Geelong oil refinery are safe following a significant fire that broke out at the facility late Wednesday night.

The blaze ignited in the Mogas section of the refinery at approximately 11pm and escalated rapidly through several explosions before being contained to an area of approximately 30 by 30 metres.

Victorian State Secretary Ronnie Hayden said while the immediate focus was the safety of members, the incident could not be separated from the broader question of Australia’s fuel security.

“The Australian Workers’ Union has had members at this site for over 40 years. That is four decades of expertise, commitment and pride in keeping this refinery running and keeping Australia fuelled. Last night that history and that dedication stood up when it mattered most.”

“This is not just about a crisis overseas or somewhere else in the world. This can happen here, and it has. We need contingencies for fuel supply and the Australian Workers’ Union has been fighting for exactly that for years. Today is a stark reminder of why.”

Victoria Branch Vice President Ross Kenna, who attended the scene, gave a firsthand account of the severity of the situation.

“The Mogas section sits at the heart of the refining process, it is where multiple production streams converge, which is what made this such a serious and dangerous incident. We got there and the scale of it was confronting. The most important thing is that our members got out safely.”

Kenna said the incident had laid bare the vulnerability of Australia’s fuel supply.

“We cannot keep hoping for the best when it comes to fuel security. We have two refineries left in this country; two and one of them has been significantly impacted. The AWU has been sounding this alarm for years. If this doesn’t prompt serious action on fuel reservation, I don’t know what will.”

The Viva Energy Geelong refinery is one of only two remaining oil refineries in Australia and the only manufacturer of a range of critical products including hydrocarbon solvents, avgas, bitumen and plastic feedstock used in food packaging, medical equipment and polymer banknotes.