Geelong refinery boosts diesel output as fuel runs short

Geelong’s refinery will receive additional crude oil shipments and has increased the output of diesel as fuel continues to be in short supply.

Viva Energy confirmed two extra shipments will arrive in the coming weeks to help ease shortages.

Chief executive Scott Wyatt said the company is working to maintain fuel supply across the country.

Refinery general manager, Bill Patterson, said his team is invested in maintaining access to fuel and diesel through this period.

Alongside the additional deliveries, Patterson confirmed the refinery has ramped up its diesel production.

“From the get-go we wanted to maximise our diesel production in anticipation of what we’re seeing at the moment,” Patterson said.

“We’re maximising the amount of diesel we can make but of course we’re continuing to make a lot of gasoline.

“The refinery runs 24/7 365 – there’s a workforce in there that is absolutely committed to doing their jobs and doing it well and they’re doing a great job at the moment under really trying circumstances.”

Patterson said there were no concerns with Viva Energy’s supply chains, with the Geelong refinery – which produces close to 50 per cent of Victoria’s fuel – continuing to operate at full capacity.

Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, met with Viva representatives on Friday morning to be briefed on fuel supply.

Wyatt acknowledged temporary shortages in parts of Victoria, with some service stations struggling to meet demand, but said contingency planning was in place.

The premier confirmed 90 service stations in the state had run out of diesel on Thursday, while 41 stations had run out of petrol.

She could not confirm whether fuel availability would be added to the ServoSaver app.

“We are looking at how we can add to [the app],” Allan said.

“What we are experiencing so far is that where there has been a localised pressure – because of that localised demand – supplies have been getting through pretty quickly to stock back up.

“People are concerned about supply in their local area and they’re concerned about price, so where we can build some security into those processes by getting service stations refilled as quickly as possible is a big part of helping hopefully ease some of that pressure.”

When asked if the increasing price of diesel would impact any of Victoria’s Big Build projects, Allan said fuel costs would not cause disruption to ongoing works.

Ahead of Easter, she urged motorists to be mindful of when and where they refuel.

Mounting conflict in the Middle East has closed one of the world’s most important oil corridors, the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global shipping and putting a clamp on supply.