NEWS.COM.AU | Industry experts support reinstating older fuel refineries in Australia

Industry voices are calling for greater investment in domestic fuel refining, following the fire at the Viva Energy Geelong Refinery and ongoing global supply pressures.

A video report from News.com.au highlights growing support from industry experts to strengthen Australia’s refining capability, with concerns the country’s reliance on imports leaves it exposed during disruptions.

Australia now operates just two refineries, with the Ampol Lytton Oil Refinery the only other domestic facility, increasing the risk when outages occur.

Grain Producers Australia RD&E spokesperson Andrew Weidemann said the conversation reflects broader concerns already being felt across agriculture.

“Events like this reinforce how important it is to have reliable, domestic fuel supply in place,” Mr Weidemann said.

“For grain producers, fuel is not optional. It underpins everything from seeding through to harvest and freight, so system resilience matters.”

The renewed focus on refining capacity comes as global fuel markets remain tight, adding further pressure to input costs across the agricultural supply chain.