Mobil has announced it is planning to expand its Altona refinery in Melbourne to help supply growing demand for refined products using locally produced crude.
The project will upgrade part of an existing crude unit to add a pre-distillation step in the refinery’s process that will increase the production of diesel and jet fuel.
It is expected to increase Altona’s overall production from 80,000 to 90,000 barrels per day and enhance energy efficiency and environmental performance through the recovery of an additional three megawatts of waste heat.
ExxonMobil Australia chair Richard Owen said the company is committed to investing in projects such as this.
“ExxonMobil Australia is focused on making strategic investments to improve our competitive position and optimise our integrated oil and gas business to support continued supply of high-quality, locally produced fuel products to Victorian businesses and households,” said Owen.
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio was onsite for the announcement, stating it was a vote of confidence for business investment in Victoria and the state’s AAA economy rating.
“Improvements in infrastructure and energy efficiency will further drive the plant’s economic benefits and contributions to the state, which is great news for Victorian jobs and workers,” said D’Ambrosio.
Mobil’s manager of refining for Australia and New Zealand Andrew Warrell said ExxonMobil Australia has invested more than $370 million in maintenance and other improvements at Altona over the past five years and the refinery’s current operation contributes $270 million to the Victorian economy each year.
“We continuously evaluate new opportunities to meet market demands and to enhance the competitiveness of the Altona refinery," said Warrell.
“Our enduring success for nearly 70 years is due to a number of factors, including a highly-skilled workforce and our position relative to local markets.”
Project construction will begin this month and is expected to be completed in 2017.
Photo: ExxonMobil Australia