Australia, April 16 (CNA) -- Australian authorities announced today that a major refinery in Victoria, engulfed in flames after a series of explosions late yesterday, is one of only two remaining refineries in the country. Officials warned of potential impacts on domestic fuel supply and urged against hoarding. According to AFP, firefighters reported that the Viva Energy fuel plant in Victoria ignited late yesterday due to a gas leak, with flames reaching up to 60 meters high. Incident commander Michael McGuinness stated the incident was caused by a "severe leak" of highly flammable gas and liquid hydrocarbons, and that the initial small fire, after several explosions, had escalated into a large-scale blaze that would take at least another 4 to 5 hours to extinguish. Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen told ABC: "The main impact at the moment seems to be on gasoline production... This is not good, and the timing is also bad, right?" Viva Energy's data indicates the refinery, located about an hour's drive southwest of Melbourne, can process 120,000 barrels of crude oil daily, accounting for about 10% of Australia's total fuel supply. Bowen stated that the fire destroyed the plant responsible for producing "high-octane gasoline." Fortunately, other plants responsible for aviation fuel and diesel were spared due to the activation of isolation valves. Australia, due to its isolated geography and only two refineries, relies heavily on imports for gasoline and is highly vulnerable to disruptions in global fuel supply. Bowen urged the Australian public to exercise restraint and avoid panic buying: "The key is to buy as needed, just enough." According to Australian government data, current gasoline reserves are about 38 days, significantly below the International Energy Agency's (IEA) minimum requirement of 90 days. While the government has not implemented rationing, it urges drivers to conserve gasoline and use public transport whenever possible.
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- Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
- Category: Taiwan