Oil refiner and fuels supplier
Formed in August 2014 when a consortium led by Vitol acquired Shell's downstream business in Australia (including the Geelong refinery and Shell service stations) for $2.6b. Viva Energy supplies around 25% of Australia's fuel and is the exclusive licensee and distributor of Shell branded fuels and lubricants in Australia. Operates more than 900 service stations across the country. Owns 100% of Liberty Oil's wholesale business and 50% of its retail business. Bought the OTR and Coles Express convenience store networks in 2023. Coles Express stores are being rebranded as Reddy Express.
Company Ownership
Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd
AUS
Viva Energy Group Ltd
owns 100% of Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd
AUS
Energy
Operates a retail network under the Shell and Viva Energy brands, plus an oil refinery in Geelong. Listed on the ASX in 2018, with Vitol retaining 30% ownership.
Vitol Holding BV
owns 30% of Viva Energy Group Ltd
SWI
Energy and commodities trader
Founded in 1966 in Rotterdam. Involved in oil refining, trading, shipping, storage, exploration and production, marketing and power generation. It has 40 offices around the world and trades over seven million barrels of crude oil and products a day, controlling about 6.5% of the world oil market in 2016. In 1990, the Dutch owner and seven other partners sold the company to 40 employees including Ian Taylor, the current CEO, with no one owning more than 5%. It is Dutch registered, Geneva headquartered and decision making is made in London.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jan 2025)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
Fined for uncontrolled discharge
In June 2017 the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) fined this company $15,000 after pumping equipment used to apply a soil binding agent was washed out on site causing waste water to flow into Duck River, Rosehill.
Source: EPA
(2017)
APCO member
Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice). This company received a packaging performance level of 2 (Good Progress) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report.
Source: APCO
(2024)
Employer of Choice for Gender Equality
This company is listed by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as a Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation holder. The citation is designed to encourage, recognise and promote active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces.
Source: WGEA
(2022)
Sustainability claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website under the headings Diversity and Inclusion, Community, Health and Safety, Environment, Climate change and Human Rights.
Source: company website
(2023)
Viva Energy Group Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
7/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2023 and received a score of 7/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
Part owned by Vitol, which has criticisms
This company is 30% owned by Vitol, which has numerous criticisms and an overall Shop Ethical rating of 'F'.
Source: Shop Ethical
(2024)
Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Modern slavery disclosure is a critical step in mitigating the risk associated with modern slavery practices in companies' operations and supply chains. The quality of the disclosure signals the level of commitments and efforts that the companies have put in managing these risks. In 2021 the Monash Centre for Financial Studies analysed and ranked the disclosure quality of the modern slavery statements submitted by the 300 largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX300). This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a grade of D.
Source: Monash University
(2021)
20% in Gender Benchmark
In 2023 and 2024, the World Benchmarking Alliance assessed 2,000 companies on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, and violence and harassment. This company scored 20 out of 100. The average score was 15.3 and the highest score was 51.
53/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 53/100 in the Oil & Gas - Refining & Marketing category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global
(2022)
22.7% in Oil and Gas Benchmark
The 2023 Oil and Gas Benchmark ranks 100 oil and gas companies on their climate strategy and performance together with social performance. This company ranked #20/100, with a total score of 22.7/100.
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Founded:
2014
Employees:
1,300
(2016)
Subsidiaries:
Liberty Oil Corporation Pty Ltd
Fuel wholesaler
Australian petroleum distributor and retailer owned and operated by Viva Energy, which also owns Shell, Reddy Express, and OTR. Founded in 1995 by David Goldberger and David Wieland, who had previously founded Solo in 1974. Liberty Oil has an 8% market share of the Australian petrol market.
Eureka Operations Pty Ltd
Fuel & convenience stores operator
There are more than 680 Coles Express and Reddy Express stores located across Australia. In 2023 Viva Energy bought the Coles Express convenience store network and started rebranding them to Reddy Express.
Contact Details
Address:
Level 16, 720 Bourke St, Docklands, VIC, 3008, Australia
Phone:
03 8823 4444
Website:
Products / Brands
Viva Energy Australia
Coles Express
Fuel & Convenience Stores
Liberty
Fuel & Convenience Stores
Reddy Express
Fuel & Convenience Stores