Viva Energy
Australian energy company operating fuel refining, importing, distribution, retail, convenience and industrial energy businesses.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Viva Energy is an Australian energy company whose business spans petroleum refining, fuel importing, storage, distribution, retail service stations, convenience stores, aviation and marine fuel, lubricants, specialty hydrocarbons and polymers. It was established in August 2014 when Vitol Investment Partnership acquired Shell’s Australian downstream operations. The business therefore combines a relatively recent corporate identity with an operating history in Australia extending back more than a century through the former Shell organization. The company owns and operates the Geelong Refinery in Victoria, which has operated since 1954 and is one of the two remaining oil refineries in Australia. The refinery manufactures fuels and other hydrocarbon products, while Viva Energy also imports fuel supplied by Vitol through a network of 24 import terminals. Its infrastructure reaches major industrial and transport markets and includes a presence at more than 70 airports and airfields. The company has described its national supply network as providing approximately one-quarter of Australia’s petroleum products, while the Geelong refinery supplies a significant proportion of fuel consumed in Victoria and contributes to national supply. Viva Energy’s retail activities are conducted through several brands and operating formats. It supplies Shell-branded fuels in Australia under a licence agreement with Shell plc, currently described as running through the end of 2029. Its retail portfolio has expanded through ownership or acquisition of Coles Express Convenience Retailing, OTR Group, Liberty Oil, Westside Petroleum and other branded sites. The Coles Express transaction, completed in 2023, created a network of more than 700 convenience stores and fuel locations under one operator. The acquisition of OTR, completed in 2024, further strengthened Viva Energy’s convenience platform and brought the company’s store network to more than 1,000 locations. Other retail brands associated with the company include Reddy Express, Liberty Oil and Westside Petroleum. Beyond consumer fuel, Viva Energy supplies fuels, lubricants and specialty products to aviation, marine, road transport, resources, defence, construction, agriculture and manufacturing customers. It also operates the Shell Card fleet-fuel proposition for business customers using participating Shell-branded sites. In 2022, the company acquired the Australian business of LyondellBasell and rebranded it Viva Energy Polymers, broadening its exposure to plastic feedstocks and related manufacturing and marketing activities connected with the Geelong site. National fuel security has been a major strategic theme. During the COVID-19 period, reduced fuel demand placed pressure on refining economics and operations. Viva Energy worked with the Australian Commonwealth government on the Fuel Security Package announced in May 2021. The package included minimum stockholding requirements, capital support for refinery upgrades and additional diesel storage, and a commitment to maintain Geelong refinery operations until June 2028, with an option for a further two years. The company has also proposed transforming its Geelong industrial precinct into a broader energy hub incorporating strategic storage, potential gas infrastructure, hydrogen, electric-vehicle charging, renewable-energy projects and other lower-carbon technologies. Viva Energy remains principally focused on Australia, where its refinery, terminals, retail network and industrial customer base form an integrated downstream energy platform. Its development reflects the consolidation of traditional fuel infrastructure with convenience retailing and selected investments intended to support energy security and transition-related opportunities.
History
Viva Energy's corporate history begins in 2014, but its Australian operating heritage is considerably older. The company inherited the downstream activities that Shell had developed in Australia over more than 120 years, including refining, fuel marketing, infrastructure and commercial supply. Its most important industrial asset is the Geelong Refinery in Victoria, which began operating in 1954 and became part of the national refining and fuel-distribution system. In August 2014, Vitol Investment Partnership acquired Shell's Australian downstream business and created Viva Energy. Vitol retained a substantial minority interest in the listed company. The new organization continued to market Shell-branded fuels under licence while developing a corporate structure independent of the Shell Group. Its business model combined domestic refinery production with imported fuel supplied through Vitol and distributed through terminals, storage facilities and transport infrastructure across Australia. Viva Energy expanded its retail presence through a series of acquisitions and partnerships. It acquired an initial 50 percent interest in Liberty Oil in 2014 and obtained full ownership in 2019, while a separate Liberty Oil Convenience joint venture continued to operate the existing Liberty network. The company acquired half of Westside Petroleum in 2018 and the remaining half in 2020. Viva Energy also held a 35.5 percent interest in Viva Energy REIT, a property vehicle associated with service stations and convenience assets. That interest was sold in February 2020, after which the trust was renamed Waypoint REIT. The COVID-19 pandemic created severe challenges for fuel demand and refinery economics. In response, Viva Energy worked with the Commonwealth government on measures intended to preserve Australian refining capacity and strengthen fuel security. The Fuel Security Package announced in May 2021 included minimum stockholding obligations, grants for refinery improvements and diesel storage, and a commitment to maintain Geelong refinery operations through June 2028, with a possible extension to 2030. The package also supported upgrades enabling the refinery to produce ultra-low-sulphur gasoline. The company diversified beyond conventional refining and fuel retailing in 2022 by acquiring the Australian business of LyondellBasell and rebranding it Viva Energy Polymers. This added polymer feedstock manufacturing and marketing to its portfolio. In the following period, convenience retail became an increasingly important strategic pillar. Viva Energy completed the acquisition of Coles Express Convenience Retailing in May 2023, adding a large national store and fuel network. In March 2024, it completed the acquisition of OTR Group, further expanding its convenience and mobility operations. Viva Energy has also pursued a broader role in national infrastructure and energy transition. Its proposed Viva Energy Hub at Geelong is intended to build on the refinery site with projects such as strategic fuel storage, possible gas infrastructure, hydrogen refuelling, electric-vehicle charging, renewable energy and other lower-carbon initiatives. In July 2023, the company announced a strategic partnership with the Department of Defence to supply aviation, marine and ground fuels to the Australian Defence Force. Today, Viva Energy operates as an integrated Australian downstream energy group. Its activities include refining, importing, terminal and supply-chain operations, retail fuel, convenience, fleet services, industrial fuels, aviation and marine supply, lubricants, specialty hydrocarbons and polymers. The company remains closely associated with the Geelong industrial precinct and with the Shell brand in Australian fuel retailing, while its acquisitions have made convenience retail a central part of its business.
- 2024
OTR acquisition completed
[1]Viva Energy completed its acquisition of OTR Group, expanding its convenience and mobility network.
- 2023
Coles Express acquisition completed
[1]Viva Energy completed its acquisition of Coles Express Convenience Retailing.
- 2023
Defence fuel partnership announced
[1]Viva Energy announced a strategic partnership with the Department of Defence to supply fuel to the Australian Defence Force.
- 2022
Viva Energy Polymers formed
[1]Viva Energy acquired LyondellBasell's Australian business and rebranded it Viva Energy Polymers.
- 2021
Fuel Security Package announced
[1]The Australian government announced support for fuel stockholding, Geelong refinery upgrades, diesel storage and continued refinery operations.
- 2020
Westside Petroleum acquisition completed
[1]Viva Energy acquired the remaining 50 percent of Westside Petroleum.
- 2020
Sale of Viva Energy REIT interest
[1]Viva Energy sold its 35.5 percent interest in Viva Energy REIT to Charter Hall and Charter Hall Long WALE REIT.
- 2019
Full ownership of Liberty Oil
[1]Viva Energy acquired the remaining interest in Liberty Oil and established a separate Liberty Oil Convenience joint venture.
- 2018
Westside Petroleum investment
[1]Viva Energy acquired a 50 percent interest in Westside Petroleum.
- 2014
Viva Energy is established
[1]Vitol Investment Partnership acquired Shell's Australian downstream business and established Viva Energy.
Products and positioning
An integrated Australian downstream energy and convenience company combining domestic refining, imported fuel supply, national infrastructure, branded retail networks and industrial customer services, with an expanding interest in convenience retail and alternative-energy infrastructure.
Refined petroleum products · 1954
Geelong Refinery fuels
Viva Energy manufactures gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products at the Geelong Refinery. The refinery is a strategically important Australian asset, supplying a substantial share of Victorian fuel demand and contributing to national fuel availability.
Retail fuel · 2014
Shell-branded fuels
Viva Energy supplies and retails Shell-branded fuels across Australia under a licence agreement with Shell plc. The network serves consumers, commercial motorists and fleet customers through participating service stations.
Convenience retail · 2023
Coles Express and Reddy Express convenience
The former Coles Express convenience retailing business became part of Viva Energy in 2023. The acquired network combines fuel retail with food, beverages, vehicle products and other convenience categories, and forms part of Viva Energy's broader retail platform.
Convenience and mobility retail · 2024
OTR
OTR is a convenience and fuel retail network acquired by Viva Energy in 2024. Its stores support the company's strategy of combining mobility services, fuel and large-format convenience retail.
Business energy supply
Commercial and industrial fuels
Viva Energy supplies fuels, lubricants and specialty hydrocarbon products to customers in aviation, marine, transport, resources, defence, construction, agriculture and manufacturing. Supply is supported by national terminals, storage and distribution infrastructure.
Polymers and chemical feedstocks · 2022
Viva Energy Polymers
Viva Energy Polymers was created after the acquisition of LyondellBasell's Australian business. It adds polymer feedstock manufacturing and marketing to Viva Energy's traditional refining and fuel activities.
Fleet payment and fuel card
Shell Card
Shell Card is a fleet-fuel payment proposition usable by business customers at participating Shell-branded service stations across Australia.
Brand decisions
2024
Acquisition of OTR GroupM&ABackground
Viva Energy continued to pursue scale in convenience retail and mobility services.
Action taken
The company completed its acquisition of OTR Group.
Aftermath
Viva Energy's combined store network grew to more than 1,000 locations, strengthening its position in Australian convenience retail.
2023
Acquisition of Coles Express Convenience RetailingM&ABackground
Convenience retail was identified as a major growth area alongside Viva Energy's fuel and infrastructure operations.
Action taken
Viva Energy completed the acquisition of Coles Express Convenience Retailing, adding more than 700 stores and associated fuel locations.
Aftermath
The transaction created one of Australia's largest integrated fuel and convenience networks under a single operator.
2022
Acquisition of LyondellBasell AustraliaM&ABackground
Viva Energy sought to diversify beyond fuel refining and retailing into polymers and related chemical feedstocks.
Action taken
The company acquired LyondellBasell's Australian business and rebranded it Viva Energy Polymers.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Viva Energy's product portfolio and connected polymer activities with its Geelong industrial operations.
2021
Participation in the Fuel Security PackageStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic reduced fuel demand and placed pressure on Australian refining operations, raising concerns about domestic fuel security and the viability of continued refining.
Action taken
Viva Energy worked with the Commonwealth government on a package involving minimum stockholding obligations, capital grants for Geelong refinery upgrades and diesel storage, and support for continued refinery operations through June 2028, with a possible extension to 2030.
Aftermath
The package supported the continuation and upgrading of the Geelong Refinery and linked the site to broader national fuel-security policy.
Sources1 sources
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