Fuel will be temporarily in short supply in some parts of South Africa due to last month’s ”unscheduled” shutdown at Natref refinery, fuel producers said on Monday.
South African Petroleum Industry Association director Colin McClelland said: ”The shutdown has, however, disrupted the production volumes and the continuous delivery of petrol and diesel from the Natref refinery.
”The industry and the [Department of Minerals and Energy] are currently working together to minimise the impact.”
He said the industry is pursuing ”contingency actions” such as bringing in more products from the coast by rail and road.
”However, due to very tight logistics, temporary fuel shortages may be experienced at some filling stations in the inland area over the next few weeks, while we catch up on delivery backlog orders.”
The ”unscheduled” shutdown took place at Natref refinery’s crude distillation unit in Sasolburg on January 31. The Natref refinery is jointly owned by Sasol and Total South Africa.
”The refinery, which was expected to be back in operation on February 7 2006, actually restarted on February 5 2006,” McClelland said.
He said jet fuel supplies to Johannesburg International airport ”could be tight, and therefore the industry has started to supplement the inland supplies of jet fuel from the coast”.
”Supplies in the rest of the country are satisfactory, with the exception of Port Elizabeth.” — Sapa