There will not be fuel shortages this coming festive season, according to the South African Petroleum Industry Association (Sapia).
“The industry assured the minister [of minerals and energy] that the plans put in place would ensure that there would be no supply shortages this festive season as a result of the planned maintenance of refineries,” read a joint statement from Sapia and the Department of Minerals and Energy on Friday.
The two parties met earlier this month to discuss South Africa’s fuel-supply concerns and the findings of a report by the Moerane Investigating Team, commissioned to study last year’s fuel-supply shock.
One reason for Sapia’s confidence of no shortage was that most of the major refinery maintenance planned for the second half of 2006 had now been completed, according to the statement.
Other issues discussed were who would bear the greater costs of keeping stock levels higher, minimal finished stock imports, agreement of five-year lead times on fuel specifications and encouragement of investment in infrastructure, among others.
Another meeting between the parties has been scheduled for November. — I-Net Bridge