Wild conspiracy theories have circulated around the cause of a massive inferno that broke out at one of the last oil refineries in Australia.
The Geelong Viva Energy refinery in Corio continues to burn out of control on Thursday morning, more than eight hours after it erupted into flames overnight.
While there are no reports of injuries, it’s understood critical infrastructure in the refinery’s motor gasoline area has been damaged, which will impact fuel production.
The refinery supplies more than 50 per cent of Victoria’s fuel and 10 per cent nationwide.
Along with the Lytton Oil Refinery in Brisbane, the Geelong plant is one of two facilities capable of refining fuel domestically.
Both facilities have been in the spotlight in recent weeks amid fuel security challenges driven by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
While it’s understood it was initially caused by a gas leak, the fire sparked wild theories online that it was intentionally lit, with some claiming Iran was behind it.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen spent the morning trying to dispel the claims when he was asked by Sunrise host Nat Barr whether the fire was sabotage.
‘It’s no one’s fault,’ Bowen insisted.
‘There will be an investigation but at this point, there are no suspicious circumstances. It appears to be accidental.
‘It’s not great timing but we’ll manage this.’
Despite Bowen’s assurances, many online believed the blaze was too much of a coincidence.
‘Not suspicious at all,’ one commented.
‘Just coincidence that they just ran a war game scenario recently that involved numerous catastrophic events like this happening at once?’
Another added: ‘If it turns out that Iran had anything to do with the fire at the oil refinery in Geelong, I think that it should be obvious that Australia should get involved physically. The regime in Iran does not interface with diplomacy, reason and dialogue.
A local wrote: ‘I live in Geelong and my dad worked at the refinery. Fires like this have never happened. Or are extremely rare.’
Others referenced the blaze to blast Bowen and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over their handling of the ongoing fuel crisis.
Albanese is currently in Asia securing more long-term fuel supplies – his second trip to the continent within days.
‘Can Albo get back in his jet to see if he can find us some more fuel? Looks like we might need it,’ one man commented.
The full extent of damage at the Geelong refinery remains unclear as it continues to burn out of control.
Bowen confirmed that petrol production will be affected, while jet fuel and diesel production will continue at reduced levels for safety reasons.
‘At this point, the impact is mainly on petrol production, but obviously this is very early days,’ he told Channel Nine’s Today show.
‘The fire’s not yet under control, so there’s still some way to go.
‘This is not a positive development, but obviously there’s a long way to go in terms of working out just what the impact is.
‘Our advice remains to people: buy as much fuel as you need, no more, no less.’
