Viva Energy is set to undertake a $350 million upgrade to its Geelong Refinery, marking the facility’s largest transformation in decades.
This week, key components for the new ultra-low sulphur gasoline (ULSG) plant will arrive, paving the way for the production of petrol with a sulphur content of less than 10 parts per million, the cleanest ever made in the country.
The upgrade aligns Australia’s fuel quality with international standards, enabling the import of more fuel-efficient vehicles and delivering significant environmental, health, and economic benefits.
Supported by a $125 million contribution from the Australian Government under the Fuel Security Package, the ULSG plant is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2025, just ahead of new national fuel quality standards coming into effect on 15 December.
Massive production units, some weighing up to 900 tonnes and standing 28 metres tall, were delivered to Lascelles Wharf on Tuesday, 26 November. Over several days, they will be transported by barge and then by Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) to their final location near the refinery. The largest module is set to arrive on 4 December.
The upgrade is a boon for local industry, with $200 million allocated to Australian procurement and construction, primarily benefiting businesses in the Geelong region. At the height of construction, up to 300 jobs will be created.
The refinery’s transformation is part of Viva Energy’s broader ambitions to establish the Geelong facility as a hub for cleaner fuels and sustainable manufacturing.
In October, Viva Energy commissioned three 30 million litre diesel storage tanks to help deliver fuel security in Australia. Early next year it will commission a renewable hydrogen refuelling station as part of the Viva Energy Hub.
Viva Energy is also investigating processing alternative feedstocks in the refinery, such as used cooking oil, canola, and tallow, which could see it producing lower-carbon fuels in support of the government’s Future Made in Australia program.
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