ACSA warns of future jet fuel supply issues if plans & policies aren't put in place
The state-owned enterprise sounded the alarm earlier in January following a fire at the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa, resulting in major fuel shortages across the country’s airports.
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JOHANNESBURG - The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) said that while the jet fuel shortage in the country had been resolved if plans and policies were not put in place, there could be further issues of supply in the future.
The state-owned enterprise sounded the alarm earlier in January following a fire at the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa, resulting in major fuel shortages across the country’s airports.
Flights across the country were severely impacted, with several-hour delays, cancellations and millions of rands lost in revenue.
Earlier this month a fire at National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (NATREF) in Sasolburg saw operations halted, meaning jet fuel could not be supplied to airports.
This meant that fuel had to be transported from KwaZulu-Natal via Transnet’s pipeline and freight rail.
Airports Company of South Africa CEO, Mpumi Mpofu, said that following engagements with government, they had managed to secure enough jet fuel reserves to see them through until NATREF was operational.
"We’ve secured 71.5 million litres that’s necessary to tide us over from the effects of the fire and that’s more than we need. Because it’s the 71.5 million plus the 50 we got before and that gives us 121 million litres, comfortably meeting our requirements for February."
NATREF is expected to resume the supply of jet fuel on 27 February.