FIASA Assures Jet Fuel Supply Stability at O.R. Tambo Following Refinery Incident
The Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (FIASA) has communicated with the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) regarding the proactive measures being taken by the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (NATREF) to ensure uninterrupted jet fuel supply at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. This response comes in light of a refinery fire that occurred on January 4, 2025.
The affected Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) is anticipated to resume operations by February 21, 2025. In the interim, ACSA has confirmed that it has sufficient reserves to maintain jet fuel availability at O.R. Tambo International Airport until January 20, 2025. To mitigate any potential fuel shortages, several key actions are currently being implemented:
- Scheduled Deliveries: A delivery of 17,000m³ of jet fuel is expected to arrive on January 12, 2025.
- Pipeline Injection: An additional 31,000m³ of jet fuel will be injected from Durban on January 14, with an estimated arrival by January 27, 2025.
- Increased Rail Transport: Priority has been placed on rail deliveries from both Durban and Matola, Mozambique.
- Alternative Sourcing: Efforts are underway to procure fuel from other airports, along with direct injections to NATREF to bolster supply.
These coordinated efforts aim to ensure that jet fuel availability remains stable and reliable during the ongoing recovery process from the refinery incident.
