On 16 January 2025, the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa, in collaboration with its stakeholders, including Transnet and the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), announced it is actively implementing measures to mitigate potential supply disruptions of jet fuel and other petroleum products to O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) and the general market.
This follows a fire that occurred on 4 January 2025 at the Natref refinery, which necessitated the shutdown of the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and other key processing units. Repairs and assessments are ongoing, with the CDU restart date estimated to be 21 February 2025.
According to the statement, current jet fuel stocks at ORTIA are sufficient to meet demand until 24 January 2025. However, supply tightness remains a concern, and if planned mitigation measures are not fully implemented, airline delivery disruptions could occur from 1 February 2025.
To address these challenges, the Association and its members have implemented several mitigation measures. These include the injection of 26,000m³ of jet fuel from Durban, with the first 9,500m³ scheduled to arrive on 21 January 2025, if all goes according to plan. Rail deliveries from Durban and Matola in Mozambique will also be increased, with additional capacity allocated to ensure sufficient supply. Additionally, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has loaded 109 jet fuel tankers for ORTIA in the week ending 19 January 2025.
The Fuels Industry Association of South Africa’s Chief Executive, Avhapfani Tshifularo, stated, “We are facing a challenging situation, but we wish to assure stakeholders that the Fuels Industry Association and its members are committed to maintaining fuel availability and minimising disruptions. We are working tirelessly to coordinate efforts and implement robust measures to ensure continuous operations at O.R Tambo International Airport and across the country.”
The jet fuel suppliers have also engaged airlines to reduce demand wherever possible to help manage stock levels during this critical period.
