Fuel leak at Mobil refinery sparks emergency

CREWS are working to fix a fuel leak at the Mobil refinery 13km west of the Melbourne CBD this morning.

Generic photographs of the Mobil refinery at Altona.

CREWS are working to fix a fuel leak at the Mobil refinery in Melbourne this morning.

A spokeswoman for Mobil experienced a small release of fuel from one of the Altona refinery’s process units about 2.30am.

The Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services were called and used spray to contain the fuel, which was originally thought to be a gas leak.

The fire crews were assisting the refinery’s maintenance crews to patch up the pipe.

“The leak has been contained but maintenance crews were still working to repair the pipeline,” a MFB spokesman told news.com.au.

The Mobil spokeswoman confirmed the unit had been safely shut down and there was no threat to the community or environment.

No threat to community or environment from fuel leak at Mobil refinery.

“Mobil is working to safely investigate the cause of the release and repair the affected unit,” she said.

She said that the company was not anticipating any impact to its fuel supply.

“Mobil apologises for any inconvenience or concern that this incident may have caused our neighbours,” she said.

The refinery is located 13km west of the Melbourne CBD and supplies half of Victoria’s fuel needs. According to its website, it operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and processes crude oil into petroleum products.

After processing, refined products are pumped into one of the almost 100 storage tanks on site and in the adjacent “tank farm”.

For more information, please call the refinery’s 24-hour community hotline on 1800 659 527.

Mobil refinery in Altona supplies half of Victoria’s fuel needs.