Firefighters battle huge blaze at Australian oil refinery

Firefighters are battling a major fire at one of Australia's two operating oil refineries. The fire broke out just after 11 p.m. local time (1300 GMT/UTC) on Wednesday at the Viva Energy Group's refinery near Geelong in the Australian state of Victoria. Fire Rescue Victoria said it responded after multiple reports of explosions and flames at the refinery in the industrial suburb of Corio. "The fire is not yet under control although is currently contained to the plant," Fire Rescue Victoria said in a statement early Thursday local time. It said the blaze involved "liquid fuels and gases." It has told people in Geelong and the surrounding area to stay indoors, close ‌windows and doors and turn off heating and cooling systems. Some 300,000 people live in the port city, ‌which is about an hour's drive from Melbourne. All refinery staff were accounted for, Fire Rescue Victoria said, and there were no reported injuries. Ronnie Hayden told Australia's national broadcaster ABC that about 100 staff members were working at the time. All of them escaped unhurt, he said. The Country Fire Authority downgraded its threat alert on Thursday morning, saying that "the fire is still being fought by firefighters, but there is no threat to the public." Geelong's Mayor Stretch Kontelj told ABC Radio Melbourne that the fire was "unprecedented" and would burn for some hours yet. Australia has only two operational oil refineries The Viva Energy refinery in Geelong one of two remaining refineries in Australia. It supplies more than 50% of Victoria's and 10% of Australia's fuel, ⁠according to the refinery's website. The refinery can process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day, the website says. Australia has faced fuel security concerns since the Iran war all but closed the Strait of Hormuz. It imports 90% of its refined fuel needs. Energy Minister Chris Bowen told Australia's Nine News that the fire would mainly impact petrol production. "At this point, production of jet fuel and diesel is continuing at the refinery at reduced levels for safety reasons as a precaution," he told the broadcaster on Thursday morning local time. It appears to be an accident, he said, adding that there would be an investigation into the incident. The Geelong refinery supplies a large proportion of jet fuel to Melbourne's Tullamarine airport. Edited by: Sean Sinico