Shell Geelong refinery to close

[mik]

Found this re WIKI:
As of August 2012, Caltex operates two petroleum refineries in Australia: one at Kurnell in Sydney, New South Wales, and one at Lytton in Brisbane, Queensland. The Kurnell Refinery will cease operations in 2014, and part of the existing infrastructure such as wharfs and tanks will be converted to a fuel importation terminal.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by flappist

This may have an even bigger effect. Melbourne has always had the cheapest LPG in Australia by a fair amount as it is mostly produced there and is a lot more difficult to transport than other fuels.

I wonder how loud the screaming will be if Melbourne prices rise to match those in the other states....

Maybe the refiners need to organise a JV where they co-own a giant new refinery and produce all their needs in one shared plant which has the same capacity as the Asian plants often referred to. The Australian dollar won't stay high forever once the US and Europe "pull their fingers out".

Looked at Shell Geelong's website and the following made my laugh in an ironic, dis-satisfied way....going to have to edit this aren't they, ....
http://www.shell.com.au/aboutshell/w.../about-us.html

Thank you for visiting Shell Geelong refinery’s website to learn more about our operations.
Shell has been an integral part of the Geelong region for the past 55 years and like many other businesses, we have evolved to adapt to changing social and market conditions. However, one aspect remains unchanged and that is the calibre of our employees who are undoubtedly the foundation of the business.
Being a part of a global organisation has helped build our skills base. When we embark on complex projects, we can call on the global expertise within Shell to work with our contractors and us. This has built a base of skills in Geelong, which supports others and us in the manufacturing sector.
We also train apprentices each year through G-Force Recruitment. In addition, the refinery’s human resources department works with local secondary schools to inform them of the opportunities within manufacturing and to support students who want to pursue this career path.
These initiatives are examples of how we aim to ‘build capacity’ within our industry. Building capacity is something we also seek to do in our community, with great support from our Community Advisory Panel (CAP). The CAP has helped us to broaden our engagement with the local community and to understand and help meet community members’ needs.
Through our community development work, which includes Employee Community Grants and three social investment programmes, the refinery invests hundreds of thousands of dollars in our neighbourhood each year.
Through these initiatives we ensure the continued relevance of our operations, while helping build our community into a better one in which to work and live.
Mark Schubert
General Manager

[Sprint XR8]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

From what i've read, Shell are the only ones that make Avgas in Oz.

Interestingly they have spent a bucketload of money over the last few years on a pipeline to Avalon airport, and a brand new water recycling plant. All up they have spent in excess of $10 million dollars over the past few years on this stuff and its only just been, or close to be, finished, and now they announce this. What a waste of money.

The pipeline works at Avalon had nothing to do with the airport. A pipeline has run from the Corio refinery to Newport since the 1950's. In 2004 it was discoved that fuel had been leaking from the pipe undetected for a number of years near Avalon. Shell have spent millions buying the contaminated farmland and trying to pump out the contaminated groundwater with network of bores hooked up to a treatment plant.
http://www.wetrocks.com.au/media/fil...Fuel_Spill.pdf

Mobil have a similar issue with the pipeline running from the Altona refinery to its Yarraville terminal. In 2006 the 1950's built pipeline was found to have leaked over the previous 2 years over 600000lt of fuel into a residential area of Newport.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/mo...204-1qyzh.html

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by cobramania

From the BP web site.
Bulwer Island’s product range includes:
Petrol – Unleaded, Premium Unleaded
Diesel fuels
Aviation fuel, including jet fuel and aviation gasoline
Bitumen
Fuel oil
Hydrogen
Kerosene
LPG (including propane and butane)

Kwinana’s product range includes:
Petrol – Unleaded, Premium Unleaded, BP Ultimate and BP Opal
Diesel fuels
Aviation fuel, including jet fuel and aviation gasoline
Bitumen
Fuel oil
Hydrogen
Kerosene
LPG (including propane and butane)

The 2 Caltex refineries & Mobil's Altona refinery make Jet Fuel, but not AVGAS, both BP refineries make both Jet Fuel & AVGAS.
I can only go on what the web sites say, I don't know anyone working at the BP refineries, but I doubt they'd list AVGAS if they didn't make it?

I was only going off what I read in the paper about it, they claimed they are the only ones that make Avgas. But don't believe everything you read, blah, blah, blah. Maybe they do, maybe they don't, I dunno.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by CoupeXB

The pipeline works at Avalon had nothing to do with the airport. A pipeline has run from the Corio refinery to Newport since the 1950's. In 2004 it was discoved that fuel had been leaking from the pipe undetected for a number of years near Avalon. Shell have spent millions buying the contaminated farmland and trying to pump out the contaminated groundwater with network of bores hooked up to a treatment plant.
http://www.wetrocks.com.au/media/fil...Fuel_Spill.pdf

Mobil have a similar issue with the pipeline running from the Altona refinery to its Yarraville terminal. In 2006 the 1950's built pipeline was found to have leaked over the previous 2 years over 600000lt of fuel into a residential area of Newport.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/mo...204-1qyzh.html

Old article but shows the plan was in place, I don't know wether it was completed or even started though.

Shell, Avalon pipeline plan

Danny Lannen | February 17th, 2011






AVALON Airport and Shell Geelong Refinery have forged partnership as plans for a jet fuel pipeline between the neighbours take off.
Airport chief executive Justin Giddings hopes to see earthwork under way before the end of the year, heralding a new competitive era for the airport on domestic and international markets.

Planning of a $250 million Geelong-Melbourne rail link and station is also under way with mobilising of a Victorian Government working party.

Mr Giddings said the pipeline would be little more than one kilometre long but would bring lasting benefits.

``We're almost forming a partnership with Shell to deliver the outcome, and that's looking good,'' Mr Giddings said.

``It's very, very early stages but there's nothing to suggest it won't happen.

``By putting this pipeline in we're literally tying ourselves to Shell forever, so really we need them to survive and prosper and be able to deliver the fuel at reasonable price, but they need us to grow.''

Avalon will be seeking up to 50 million litres of fuel a year at the outset, hoping the volume would rapidly grow with securing of international flights and millions more passengers.

Direct piping would save up to 10 cents a litre by eliminating cost of transporting fuel from Melbourne and slice up to $17 off an international airfare.

Chiefs believe the cuts would make Avalon the most cost-effective airport in the nation.

Fuel is now piped from the refinery, through airport land to Melbourne and trucked back to Avalon.

Shell Geelong Refinery communications manager Joan McGovern said the newly-forged partnership would be positive.

``It will allow us to supply all of Avalon's fuel which is really important. The other thing is it will give the airport support for international trade and I think a big benefit too, it will take trucks off the road.''

The Victorian Government has backed building of the pipeline and formed a rail link project group, with work fulfilling a pre-election pledge.

``I must say everything seems to be on track, they've been very positive about it,'' Mr Giddings said.

``There's been a lot of discussion, a lot of design meetings.''