Viva Energy has announced the appointment of experienced chemical engineer Bill Paterson as General Manager of its Geelong Refinery.
Patterson has over 20 years of experience in the energy industry since starting his career at the Geelong Refinery. He has worked for Shell and at Viva Energy in different capacities, including roles that have taken him from Australia to Oman and Singapore. Most recently, Patterson held the position of CEO of Liberty Rural, Viva Energy’s regional and rural fuel business.
Patterson said he excited to be back at the refinery where his career began.
“Like so many others, I found it was a great place to work while I learnt new skills, and I hope that it will continue to provide opportunities to other generations for years to come.
“I am very proud of what we do at the refinery in Geelong, producing fuels and other vital products which are supplied to every state in the country. We play a big role in Australia’s energy security – our ability to turn raw materials into high-quality products means we are providing resilience to the nation’s fuel supply chains while keeping value-add and skilled jobs onshore.”
Patterson will be supporting Dale Cooper, who is overseeing delivery of a slate of development projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars at the refinery over the next 18 months.
These projects include the Ultra Low Sulphur Gasoline plant, a renewable hydrogen station, three 30-million-litre diesel storage tanks, and a refinery turnaround planned for 2025.
“It is pleasing to know that Dale will be here to oversee delivery of these critical projects that represent a huge investment in Geelong’s economy and the future of the refinery, positioning the facility as a key player in the energy transition,” said Patterson.
Viva Energy is currently investing in Australia’s strategic storage capacity and cleaner fuels production, which Patterson says will cement Geelong’s important role in this energy transition.
“The energy transition presents important opportunities for Geelong. Our refinery in Corio is at the centre of our plans for the Viva Energy Hub, giving us the jump on emerging prospects. Construction of our renewable hydrogen refuelling station is already well advanced and we are committed to electrification of key parts of the refinery to reduce our emissions.
“We are working with Cleanaway to investigate the potential for reprocessing waste plastics through the refinery, that could see the production of lower carbon fuels, recycled food-grade plastic and a reduction in the amount of waste going to landfill. The future is genuinely exciting.”
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