The South African National Department of Transport is pleased to announce that 121.1 million litres of jet fuel have been secured to meet the needs of OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg until the reopening of the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (NATREF) refinery, expected at the end of February 2025.
This development follows an urgent meeting convened by the South African Minister of Transport Ms. Barbara Creecy on 24 January 2025, with key stakeholders in the fuel industry to address potential jet fuel shortages that could disrupt flight operations.
The meeting included representatives from the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the Fuel Industry Association of South Africa (FIASA), and SASOL. The immediate goal was to resolve the supply challenges caused by the shutdown of NATREF, which was severely impacted by a fire on 04 January 2025.
The unanticipated refinery shutdown led to disruptions, with some airlines needing to refuel at alternative locations such as Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek (Namibia), King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban, and other destinations, causing significant inconvenience for passengers and crew.
In response to this crisis, the fuels industry initially secured 50 million litres of jet fuel from various suppliers by Monday, 22 January 2025. By Friday, an additional 71.1 million litres were sourced, bringing the total to 121.1 million litres. The fuel will be imported through the Port of Durban, with three vessels scheduled to arrive on 01 February 2025 and 10 February 2025.
To ensure smooth delivery, all parties agreed to develop a logistics plan to transport the fuel from Durban to OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. An update on these plans is expected to be presented to Minister Creecy by Friday, 31 January 2025.
In addition to addressing the immediate crisis, the meeting highlighted the importance of building a fuel reserve as a safety buffer for unforeseen events such as delays, diversions, or unexpected flight changes. ACSA has committed to engaging with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to explore this further.
27 January 2025
OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg: Jet fuel supply secured amid NATREF shutdown!
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