Jet fuel shortage on the cards for South African airports

South African airlines are making contingency plans for a potential jet-fuel shortage after problems at a Sasol refinery threatened supplies.

The Department of Energy convened an emergency meeting with Airports Company South Africa and the Fuels Industry Association of Southern Africa on Wednesday afternoon, South African regional carrier Airlink said in response to questions.

The disruption follows planned maintenance at the Natref refinery that was compounded by a technical problem, FlySafair said, citing its understanding of the situation.

The airline carries more than half of South Africa’s domestic passengers.

The airline said it has made arrangements to temporarily increase supplies from alternative providers to manage a potential shortfall.

Together with aircraft carrying additional fuel to reduce the amount they need at their destination, the measures should allow FlySafair to maintain fuel security for its operations, Chief Marketing Officer Kirby Gordon said in an emailed response to questions.

Natref, in Sasolburg, is South Africa’s only inland crude-oil refinery and an important supplier of fuel to the country’s economic hub.

FIASA, ACSA and Sasol didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Neighbouring Namibia is also facing a jet-fuel shortage that has forced airlines to reroute flights and could last until the weekend, after a contaminated cargo left trading house Vitol rushing to replace supplies for its customers in the country.

Supplies of jet fuel have been constrained since the US and Israel went to war with Iran at the end of February, disrupting flows through the Strait of Hormuz.