JOHANNESBURG – As the war in the Middle East continues to rage on, government has allayed the fears of motorists about the country’s fuel supply.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources says, based on the orders the various petroleum companies have made, the country has sufficient capacity in the reserves to last until April.
Jacob Mbele, the department’s director general, said companies operating in the country source their products from different parts of the world at different intervals.
“Currently, orders for finished products will be placed six weeks before they are delivered. For crude oil we are looking at a period of three months before they are delivered. In a normal situation, there should be product being received every six weeks,” Mbele said.
He said projections for end of April were based on orders that have already been placed by the petroleum companies.
“They are continuing to place orders and if all goes well, we are hopeful that product will continue flowing as they are sourcing these products where they have facilities as the Middle East continues to have challenges.”
While there were logistical constraints, Mbele said they have received assurance from the petroleum companies that products will continue to flow.
“We also have three refineries in the country and those are continuing to produce. The Astron refinery which is out on maintenance should also be back by the middle of April. So far, we are guaranteed import supply. The situation is fluid, but it is being managed.”
He urged motorists not to panic-buy petrol as the reserves were still stable.
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“With the challenges that we have, if we all rush to the pumps to try and get our hands on whatever is available, we are going to create a shortage because the logistical cycle can only get product to us within a certain period. People must not go and get products beyond what they require.”
Bobby Ramagwede, Automobile Association of South Africa CEO also emphasised that the country had enough fuel reserves.
‘Don’t panic. We have fuel and oil reserves. It’s only when we start eating into those reserves that we start depleting them and have reason to panic. Consumers need to be aware that we receive the bulk of our refined oil from different parts of the world.”