Australian company Viva Energy announced that it plans to restart crucial operations at its Geelong refinery in June, after completing repairs resulting from the fire that occurred in April in one of its critical units.
Specifically, the company indicated that the work on the waste catalytic cracking unit (RCCU) will take approximately six weeks, an essential component in the processing of fuels such as gasoline.
Progress in the reactivation of the RCCU unit
According to the company, the technical processes necessary for reactivation are progressing as planned; so far, no relevant obstacles have been identified that would delay the system’s launch.
In addition, Viva Energy is conducting an internal investigation to determine the causes of the incident, while continuing to assess the extent of the structural damage to the facility.
Impact of the fire on the fuel supply
The fire, which broke out on April 15 at the larger of the country’s two refineries, directly impacted gasoline production at a particularly critical time for the Australian energy market.
At that time, the international context was already putting pressure on fuel availability due to disruptions in global supply linked to the conflict with Iran. This situation heightened concerns about potential shortages.
Recovery of operational capacity
Once the RCCU reactivation is complete, the company expects the refinery to reach over 90% of its production capacity. This level would allow for a partial stabilization of fuel supplies in the local market.
Similarly, the performance of Viva Energy shares reflected some caution from investors, registering a slight drop of 0.8% in early trading, settling at 2.48 Australian dollars.
Going forward, the refinery’s operational performance will be crucial in assessing the resilience of the Australian energy system to unforeseen events and international tensions.
Source: Reuters
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