The Astron Energy Refinery in Cape Town plays a key role in ensuring security of supply for South Africa, as well as supporting important sectors of the economy, including mining.

Astron Energy, through its majority shareholder Glencore PLC, has made significant investments in its 100,000 barrels per day Refinery as part of the company’s commitment to South Africa, its people and the economy.

The systematic restart of its Refinery was completed in 2023, and the facility is now operating at full capacity, producing the full spectrum of products including petrol, diesel, jet fuel and low sulphur marine fuel, among others.

Astron Energy CEO, Thabiet Booley said: “As the only crude oil Refinery in the south-west of South Africa, it is a significant contributor in ensuring security of supply to South Africa.”

“It also enables us to support key sectors of the economy such as mining, where we are a key enabler, through our commercial offering which includes the supply of fuel and lubricants for a wide range of uses across the sector.”

Astron Energy is a fuel company with a significant presence and socio-economic impact in South Africa. Besides its crude oil Refinery in Milnerton in Cape Town, it also operates a network of over 800 retail sites in South Africa, a lubricants manufacturing plant in Durban, and a supply network from 15 terminals across Southern Africa.

Astron Energy has been a presence at the annual Mining Indaba in Cape Town over the years and was again present for MI25 which took place in February.

According to Axola Myendeki, General Manager: Commercial & Industrial at Astron Energy, the company was continually looking at ways to unlock value for customers in the mining sector to ensure greater efficiencies and to realise untapped potential.

“We are focused on establishing win-win partnerships to ensure the long-term sustainability of the mining industry through a fully integrated fuel, lubricants and renewables solution,” he said.

This approach extends to the company’s relationship with communities where it has a presence.

Astron Energy’s stated purpose is Securing our Future Together and the company understands that its own long-term sustainability and success is intricately tied to the wellbeing of its host communities around its facilities. 

“We know the continued success and sustainable growth of our company is intrinsically linked to the success of the country in which we operate,” Booley said.

The Refinery supports several thousand direct and indirect jobs, as well as small businesses through empowerment programmes such as the Astron Energy Development Fund (AEDF) which seeks to create sustainable and meaningful change and prosperity for micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (SMME) in the company’s sphere of operations.

The company also invests significantly in youth empowerment programmes, with a strong focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Arts and Maths), Coding and Robotics and other skills needed for the future.

Booley said Astron Energy’s vision is to be a leading African energy company, enabling growth, enriching lives, and delivering shared value to consumers, customers and communities.

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