The Department of Transport has announced that the fuels industry and its stakeholders have, in total, secured the 121.1 million litres of jet fuel needed at OR Tambo International Airport (Ortia).
This will meet demand at the airport until the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref) refinery reopens at the end of February 2025.
The announcement comes after Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy, on Friday met with fuel industry stakeholders to resolve the jet fuel shortage that was threatening to disrupt flight operations at the airport. The Airports Company South Africa (Acsa), the Fuel Industry Association of South Africa and Sasol attended the meeting.
The fuel shortage emerged after a fire broke out at Natref on January 4, leading to its closure.
Some airlines have had to make alternative arrangements to secure fuel at Windhoek, King Shaka International Airport and other destinations at considerable inconvenience to passengers and crew.
On Monday last week, the fuels industry indicated to Acsa that it had secured 50 million litres of jet fuel from various suppliers, and on Friday an additional 71.1 million litres were secured, bringing the total to 121.1 million litres of jet fuel that has been acquired for the airport.
The fuel will be imported through the Port of Durban via three vessels expected to arrive on February 1 and February 10.
“The meeting agreed that all parties will work on a logistics plan to ensure the imported fuel supply moves from the Port of Durban to OR Tambo in time for airline needs,” the Department of Transport said in a statement.
An update on these logistics plans will be presented to the minister on Friday, January 31.
“Parties agreed it is necessary to build a fuel reserve to serve as a critical safety buffer for unforeseen circumstances such as delays, diversions or unexpected changes in flight conditions,” the department said.
Acsa will engage with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and its entities in this regard.
Creecy expressed her appreciation to passengers, businesses and stakeholders for their patience during the period of “unforeseen difficulty” and apologised for the inconvenience caused. – SAnews.gov.za
