mmg.com.au

Diesel fuel availability in the Goulburn Valley could be patchy for the next few weeks as Shell Australia works to restock service stations across Victoria.

Stations in Shepparton are operating day-to-day without certainty about when they will receive deliveries.

Safeway Caltex on Benalla Rd was running low on diesel yesterday and expected to run out by the end of the day, while the New Dookie Rd station, used largely by trucks, got a delivery yesterday afternoon.

But operators did not know when they would receive their next deliveries.

Country Fire Authority access to diesel has been secured, with brigades in discussion with fuel companies to ensure emergency supplies are available.

District operations officer Rob van Dorsser said a bushfire near Seymour at the weekend had not caused problems for crews’ fuel levels.

Shell Australia apologised to customers for the disruption to diesel availability caused by a disruption to production at its Geelong refinery.

The refinery supplies about half of Victoria’s diesel fuel and about 30 per cent of South Australia’s fuel.

‘‘Production of diesel restarted at the Geelong refinery on Sunday and the refinery is ramping up production over the next 24 hours,’’ a spokesperson for the company said.

‘‘The company expects diesel availability at Shell-branded service stations to improve over coming weeks as the company increases deliveries, but it will take time for deliveries to reach all parts of the state.

‘‘Shell has also quarantined diesel for emergency services and has made arrangements to get the diesel to areas where it may be needed.’’