Ready to explore a place that once fueled much of Victoria? The Mobil Altona Refinery, now transitioning into a fuel import terminal, holds a significant place in Australia’s industrial history. For decades, this facility hummed with activity transforming crude oil into essential products. Let’s dive into the story of the Altona Refinery.
The Mobil Altona Refinery’s story began in 1946. Construction started then. It was completed in 1954. The Standard Vacuum Oil Company commissioned it. Braun Transworld Corporation built it. The refinery sits next to Kororoit Creek. Ships could not navigate this creek. They unloaded at a pier on Point Gellibrand in Williamstown.
In its prime, the Mobil Altona Refinery processed around 13 million litres of crude oil daily. That is enough to fill more than 330000 cars. Its yearly production was valued at $3 billion. Petrol made up about 60% of the output. Diesel accounted for 30%. Jet fuel and other products formed the remaining 10%. These products were essential for transportation and various industries.
Over the years, the Altona Refinery underwent several upgrades. In 1967, it was modified to process crude oil from the Bass Strait. Between 1996 and 1998, a fluidised catalytic cracker was installed. This allowed the refinery to handle different types of crude oil.
In 2004, ExxonMobil invested in an upgrade to meet new national fuel standards. This upgrade enabled the refinery to produce petrol with 1% benzene. Diesel was produced with a sulfur content of 50 parts per million. Later, the sulfur content in diesel was reduced even further to 10 parts per million. These improvements ensured higher quality and reduced environmental impact.
The Mobil Altona Refinery used about 80 storage tanks. These tanks held refined products and crude oil. A pipeline transported approximately 90% of these products to ExxonMobil Australia’s Yarraville Terminal. From there, the products were distributed by road and rail. The refinery also supplied LPG to the Qenos plant. This plant is located at the Altona chemical complex. It also supplied the Geelong LyondellBasell chemical plant.
The refining process at Mobil Altona Refinery involved several steps. Crude oil was first fed into a distillation tower. It was then heated to vaporisation. The compounds separated based on their molecular weight. Catalytic cracking broke down heavier compounds into lighter ones. Other processes like catalytic reforming and hydrotreating refined the compounds further. A central process control system monitored and regulated all units.
However, the refinery faced challenges. Competition from other refineries in Asia increased. Demand dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2021, ExxonMobil announced that the Altona Refinery would close. It would be converted into a fuel import terminal.
The decision to close the Mobil Altona Refinery was not easy. Nathan Fay, chairman of ExxonMobil Australia, acknowledged the tremendous efforts of employees. He also thanked the government for its support. The conversion to an import terminal ensures continued fuel supply for Victoria.
Today, decommissioning work is underway. Some facilities will be integrated into the new import terminal. The site remains an active fuel distribution network. Fuel is shipped to Point Gellibrand and then moved to Yarraville.
The Mobil Altona Refinery may no longer be refining fuel but its legacy remains. It played a vital role in Australia’s energy sector for many years. Its transformation marks a new chapter. It will continue to contribute to the nation’s fuel supply as an import terminal.