Mobil invests in Altona's future through refinery turnaround project

• Project is part of an ongoing program totaling over $250 million of investment in Altona’s future and the security of Victoria’s fuel supply
• At the project’s peak, an additional workforce of 550 people is expected on-site
  

Melbourne: ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd subsidiary Mobil Refining Australia Pty Ltd (“Mobil”) advises that it is shutting down its Altona (Melbourne) refinery in October and November this year for a planned maintenance turnaround. 

This turnaround of the refinery will provide the opportunity for detailed inspection and routine maintenance of key equipment normally in continuous operation, and will enable the installation of a number of facility improvements.

Refining Manager, Glenn Henson, said “Maintenance of safe and reliable operations is a key focus for Mobil and we are investing significant resources on this during the turnaround. The cost of this year’s turnaround is substantial and, together with expenditure on maintenance and upgrades of the plant over the last three years, we have committed over $ 250 million to the future safety, reliability and viability of Altona refinery.”

The refinery is expected to be shutdown for approximately six weeks.  A carefully planned process will ensure that scheduled maintenance and project work is completed safely, on time and on budget, without impacting on fuel supplies to our customers.  Additional sources of fuel have been secured and significant work has also been carried out at the Mobil Yarraville terminal to ensure that increased marine shipments of fuel into Melbourne during the Altona turnaround can be handled efficiently.

There will be a high level of activity throughout the refinery during the turnaround with a peak additional workforce of 550 people on-site.  This work supports the local economy with over 80% of materials and labour for the turnaround being sourced from within Victoria.

“The refinery turnaround will provide immediate positive outcomes, including improved energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions and a general improvement in the reliability and performance of the plant,” said Mr Henson.  “All practicable measures are being taken to minimise community impacts, including development of a comprehensive turnaround environmental management plan and careful sequencing of unit shutdowns to manage flaring.”

Mobil’s Altona refinery supplies half of Victoria’s petroleum fuel needs and has been doing so for over 50 years.  The refinery produces approximately 12 million litres of petroleum fuel products (petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and LPG) per day and directly employs more than 350 people, many of who live in the local community in the western suburbs of Melbourne.  The refinery pays a substantial amount of local council rates each year and also contributes positively to the community through its funding for local schools, hospitals, environmental projects and a variety of other community programs.

Media enquiries:  Jessica Warne ph: 03 9270 3478 or 0467 794 893