Oil refiner Viva Energy has tied up with heavyweight partners including France’s Engie, Japan’s Mitsui and its part owner Vitol in alliances that chief executive Scott Wyatt says should fast-track its LNG import project in Geelong ahead of rival ventures.

Viva’s board has also approved investment in early engineering work on the proposed floating LNG import terminal, with the aim of giving a final go-ahead for construction in mid-2022 and commencing gas imports into Victoria in 2024.