Viva Energy’s Geelong Refinery Faces Power Outage; Production to Resume in 1-2 Weeks
Viva Energy's Geelong Refinery experienced an unscheduled shutdown due to a power outage caused by a lightning storm. Restart efforts are underway, with normal operations expected to resume within two weeks.
- Power outage at Geelong Refinery triggered by lightning storm
- Unscheduled shutdown across all refinery units
- Restart activities in progress with 1-2 week timeline for normal production
- No anticipated disruption to fuel supply in the market
- Further updates pending completion of unit assessments
Incident Overview
On 12 January 2025, Viva Energy Group’s Geelong Refinery in Victoria experienced a sudden power outage caused by an external interruption coinciding with a lightning storm in the region. This unexpected event led to an unscheduled shutdown across all operational units within the refinery.
Operational Impact and Response
The power disruption forced a complete halt in refining activities, a significant event given the refinery’s role in supplying fuels and lubricants to nearly 1,500 service stations nationwide. Viva Energy promptly initiated restart procedures, signalling a robust operational response aimed at minimising downtime.
The company has projected a timeframe of one to two weeks to restore normal production levels. This estimate reflects the complexity of safely bringing all units back online after a full shutdown, as well as the necessary assessments to ensure equipment integrity following the outage.
Market Supply and Investor Assurance
Importantly, Viva Energy has indicated that it does not expect any disruption to fuel supply in the market as a result of this incident. This reassurance is critical for stakeholders and customers reliant on the refinery’s output, especially given the tight margins and supply sensitivities in the energy sector.
Investors will be watching closely for further updates as the restart progresses and the company completes its evaluation of the refinery units. The incident underscores the vulnerability of energy infrastructure to extreme weather events, a factor increasingly relevant amid evolving climate patterns.
Looking Ahead
Viva Energy’s handling of the Geelong Refinery outage will be a key indicator of its operational resilience and crisis management capabilities. The company’s communication strategy, emphasizing transparency and timely updates, aims to maintain market confidence during this period.
As the restart activities unfold, the broader energy market will be attentive to any ripple effects, particularly in fuel pricing and supply chain stability. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of infrastructure robustness in Australia’s energy landscape.
Bottom Line?
Viva Energy’s swift response to the Geelong outage will be pivotal in maintaining supply stability and investor confidence in the weeks ahead.
Questions in the middle?
- What specific assessments are being conducted on the refinery units before full restart?
- Could repeated weather-related outages prompt a review of infrastructure resilience at Geelong?
- How might this incident influence Viva Energy’s operational risk management and future capital allocation?
