Altona Refinery Turnaround

Overview

From early October to mid-November 2011, Mobil Altona Refinery was temporarily shut down to complete an extensive maintenance program, commonly known as a ‘turnaround’.

Mobil is committed to safely and reliably operating the Altona Refinery at all times, and the turnaround is a key part of our maintenance program for the Refinery. We have spent two years carefully planning for the turnaround to ensure that impacts on the environment and local community were minimised, that we maintained a reliable fuel supply for Victoria from other sources, and that all work was completed safely and without incident.

The turnaround gave us the opportunity to inspect the Refinery and complete maintenance and equipment upgrades, including a number of efficiency measures to reduce energy use and improve reliability and overall performance.

While our planning sought to minimise impact on our neighbourhood, nearby residents may have noticed some increased flaring, or changes to odours or noise patterns while the Refinery was initially shut down in early October and then again during the start-up activities in mid-November.

An additional 550 people worked at the Refinery during the turnaround, providing a significant boost to employment and spending in the Western suburbs.

Residents can call the 24-hour Community Hotline on 1800 659 527 (free-call).