Airlines are facing jet fuel supply challenges after an unplanned outage at Sasol's Natref facility.
Sasol says an unplanned stoppage at its Natref refinery has curtailed jet-fuel supplies to South Africa’s busiest airport, prompting airlines to make contingency plans to avoid disruptions.
The outage of a downstream unit has affected Sasol’s ability to meet its full supply commitments for some fuel grades, the company said in a response to questions.
That includes jet fuel for customers at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, one of Africa’s largest aviation hubs.
Sasol will continue to partially supply its jet-fuel customers at the airport and is implementing measures to minimise the impact, it said. Natref is working to restore normal operations as soon as possible.
The Department of Energy convened an emergency meeting with Airports Company South Africa and the Fuels Industry Association of Southern Africa on Wednesday afternoon, the Airlines Association of Southern Africa said.
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 South African airline carries more than half of South Africa’s domestic passengers.
FlySafair said it has made arrangements to temporarily increase supplies from alternative providers to manage any shortfall.
Together with “a moderate tankering adjustment,” where aircraft carry 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.
Neighboring Namibia is also facing a jet-fuel shortage that has forced airlines to reroute flights. That could last until the weekend, after a contaminated cargo left trading house Vitol Group 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.
