The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has assured that its flagship OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), east of Johannesburg, now has enough jet fuel to meet demand for the rest of this month. ACSA is now working with industry and other partners to mitigate any disruptions that might occur in February.

The supply of jet fuel has been disrupted by a fire at the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref) refinery on January 4.

“ORTIA has 27.1-million litres of jet fuel currently available,” reported ACSA. “The airport currently utilises about 3.6 million litres of jet fuel a day which means that there are about 7.6 days of stock on hand until the week ending 02/02/2025.”

With the Natref refinery expected to restart on February 27, ACSA needed to source 97.2-million litres of jet fuel to meet demand next month. To address this, ACSA was working with Natref, the Fuels Industry Association of Southern Africa, the Central Energy Fund, the Strategic Fuel Fund, Transnet Pipelines, Transnet Freight Rail, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, and other entities.

“The distribution of fuel remains at the discretion of airlines and fuel suppliers subject to their respective commercial contracts,” explained ACSA. “Airlines and suppliers are exploring alternative measures, such as tankering (refuelling at other airports), to manage fuel needs.

Some airlines have raised concerns that their suppliers are restricting them and are not able to secure enough fuel to get them to their next destinations and have started making alternative plans to make fuel stops at other airports. Airlines are entitled to take measures they consider prudent in the circumstances including tankering from other airports, in order to save the current fuel reserves until certainty about the month of February prevails.”

ACSA is pursuing three main lines of action to ensure ORTIA’s jet fuel supply for next month. First, it is engaging with all the stakeholders to address the shortage and to build up fuel reserves. Second, it has asked Transnet to give priority to moving fuel from Durban to Gauteng, once the fuel that is being imported has arrived at the port city. Third, the fuel industry has been asked to build up the reserves at King Shaka International Airport, which has a large fuel capacity that exceeds its daily demand. 

“ACSA would like to reassure airlines, passengers, and all stakeholders that every necessary step is being taken to maintain normal airport operations and ensure the secure and uninterrupted availability of jet fuel at ORTIA,” affirmed the company. “ACSA remains committed to transparent and timely communication and will continue to closely monitor the situation.”