Late Wednesday evening local time, Geelong's fire department in southeastern Australia was alerted to explosions and a large fire at one of the country's two operating oil refineries.
The country already had a fuel shortage before the fire, as Australia imports all its oil and gasoline from Asia, a supply that has been drastically affected by the war in Iran.
"It's not good timing," the country's Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, told ABC News.
The refinery can refine up to 120,000 barrels of oil a day and, together with a similar plant in Brisbane, is one of only two in the country used to produce gasoline from crude oil.
No crime is suspected at this time and all employees are safe.
