Maintenance delayed for one of Australia’s two remaining fuel refineries

One of Australia’s two remaining oil refineries is set to shut down for maintenance work for around six weeks from August 2026 – two months later than planned.

Ampol has announced its decision to delay maintenance of its Lytton refinery in Brisbane is due to the current fuel supply issues gripping much of the country.

The scheduled maintenance was set to begin in June 2026, however, the company has chosen to push back the work, which will include inspections, repairs, and upgrades to the plant.

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Ampol says the delay will allow approximately 300 million litres of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel to supplied to the market during that period.

In a supplied statement, Ampol said the decision was made following “a detailed technical assessment” of the facility, and confirmed the Australian Government was aware of the scheduled maintenance.

As reported by CarExpert, hundreds of service stations across the nation are either partially or entirely out of fuel – while motorists who can find petrol and diesel are dealing with significantly higher prices.

The government’s recent decision to ease fuel standards will also allow the Lytton refinery to supply an additional 80 to 100 million litres of petrol each month.

“The important role Australian refineries play in supporting the resilience of our domestic fuel supply is being reinforced in the current global oil market environment,” said Ampol managing director and CEO, Matt Halliday.

“We look forward to continuing the dialogue with the Federal Government in the months ahead on the long-term prospects for transport fuels refining in Australia.”

The Lytton plant is one of two oil refineries left in Australia, alongside the Viva Energy facility in Geelong, Victoria.

Between 2003 and 2023, the number of oil refineries operating in Australia dropped from around eight to just two.

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