Jet fuel crisis? 'We don't foresee a shortage'- SARS
The shutdown of most local fuel refineries and outdated fuel import regulations are said to be key factors driving the feared crisis.
A South African Airways Airbus A330 airplane. Picture: Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via AFP
702 and CapeTalk's Africa Melane chats to Dr Johnstone Makhubu, Deputy Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below:
"It's important that we assure South Africans that we don't foresee a shortage of fuel."
- Dr Johnstone Makhubu, Deputy Commissioner - SARS
The country's aviation sector is not facing a jet fuel crisis.
That's the word from SARS following reports of a potential fuel shortage in October.
The CEO of the South African Petroleum Association, Avhapfani Tshifularo, recently said the country relies heavily on imported fuel, but legal and logistical barriers are hindering efficient supply.
Tshifularo urged the government to implement interim regulatory measures that would allow fuel imports through terminals and exports from depots.
"The importation of jet fuel has seen an increase over the last two, three years, and this has been due to the fact that some refining capacity has closed in the country, and therefore there is importation of fuel. In recognising this, SARS had taken a decision working with industry to allow for special storage warehouses to be licenced temporarily while a permanent solution was being worked on, and this was again to ensure that there is continuity of supply and that there is no endangering of supply within the environment."
- Dr Johnstone Makhubu, Deputy Commissioner - SARS
"A year ago, we would have given those temporary licences to industry operators to be able to import the fuel; that arrangement comes to an end around the end of October 2025, and we have been engaging to try and ensure that there is an extension to that arrangement. The form and shape of that extension, the Commissioner is applying his mind to, and within the end of this week would have communicated with industry..."
- Dr Johnstone Makhubu, Deputy Commissioner - SARS
"South Africa needs to be certain that there will be no shortage, at least not as a result of uncertainty around the current temporary arrangement that is currently expiring on the 30th of October."
- Dr Johnstone Makhubu, Deputy Commissioner - SARS
Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.