Queensland reveals plans for new $11bn Gladstone oil refinery amid national fuel crisis
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has announced plans to build a new oil refinery just days after a massive fire ripped through one of the country’s last remaining refineries in Geelong.
On Friday, Mr Crisafulli said the state government was in talks with “a number of supporters” about building a refinery in the Gladstone area.
The announcement comes as Australia grapples with a fuel crisis caused by the US-Iran conflict in the Middle East.
“I have an important announcement on Queensland fuel safety,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“I talk a lot about Queensland and how we need to be able to control our own destiny, drilling, refining and storing our own fuel.
“I can announce today that we are in discussions with various advocates about building a fuel refinery here in Queensland.
“We have the right framework, we have the right attitude and we are open for business.”
There are currently two oil refineries in operation in Australia; Ampol’s Lytton refinery in Brisbane and VIVA Energy’s refinery in Geelong, which went up in flames on Wednesday night.
In 2021, refineries in Kwinana, WA and Altona, Victoria were closed and converted to import-only terminals.
When asked how long construction of the Gladstone refinery would take, Mr Crisafulli could not give an exact time frame.
“This is a long-term vision,” he said.
“There are things we need to do in the short term and medium term.”
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said he had met with Queensland Economic Development and the General Coordinator to get the project approved quickly.
“I have instructed Queensland Economic Development and the Coordinator General to move to every level possible with these companies we are currently engaging with for new refineries to get approvals quickly, find the land and get these refineries built,” he said.
Resilient Energy Australia chief executive David Goodwin told the ABC his organization had proposed building an $11 billion refinery in the Gladstone area that could process 210,000 barrels of oil a day.
“Our goal is to produce 60 to 70 percent diesel products,” he said.
“Of course we will produce aviation gasoline, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel and everything else.”
