SINCE transferring ownership to Viva Energy Australia, Geelong Refinery continues to support local employees and suppliers while significantly ramping up investment.
As well as Geelong Refinery, Viva Energy owns and operates an 870 site-retail network and a bulk fuels, bitumen, chemicals and lubricants business supported by more than 20 terminals across the country.
General manager refining Thys Heyns says the company expects to invest $1 billion, with a third to be spent on the refinery, during the next five years.
“Around 750 people work at the refinery and we inject more than $200 million in wages and services directly into the local economy each year,” Mr Heyns says.
“Recently we announced a $23 million investment to construct a fuel pumping station on an existing pipeline between Geelong Refinery and our Newport terminal to increase the amount of fuel that can be transferred by more than 24 per cent.”
Viva Energy is also the last manufacturer of bitumen in Australia, currently supplying more than 50 per cent of bitumen to Victorian roads. Already $30 million has been invested in a new bitumen tankage and gantry and plans are being developed for a bitumen export line to service other states.
Viva Energy also plans for the development of a new crude tank at the refinery. If it proceeds the tank will increase crude storage by around 40 per cent.
Riordan Fuels recently signed a long term contact with Viva Energy, citing the ability to source locally-produced diesel fuels as a key factor.
Riordan’s managing director, Robert Riordan, says customers across regional and metropolitan network will be pleased with the commitment.
“The Geelong Refinery is an integral part of the Victorian economy and produces quality products, so locking in a long-term contract of this nature is positive for our customers, Viva Energy and the state,” he says.
