Pretoria – The impending Jet fuel supply problem at O.R. Tambo International Airport has been staved off.
The National Department of Transport announced on Sunday, (26 January 2025), that the fuels industry and its stakeholders have, “secured 121.1 million litres of jet fuel needed at the O.R. Tambo International Airport until the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa refinery opens its doors at the end of February 2025”.
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The department said the announcement follows an urgent meeting convened by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy last Friday, (24 January 2025), with relevant fuel industry stakeholders to resolve jet fuel shortages.
The meeting was attended by Airport Company South Africa (ACSA), the Fuel Industry Association of South Africa, and SASOL.
“The aim was to resolve jet fuel shortages that were threatening to disrupt flight operations at OR Tambo International Airport in February 2025,” the department said.
“The cause of the anticipated fuel shortages was the shutdown of the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa, which caught fire on the 4th of January 2025.
“This led to some airlines having to make alternative arrangements to secure fuel at Windhoek, King Shaka Airport, and other destinations at considerable inconvenience to passengers and crew.”
The department said on Monday, last week, the fuels industry indicated to ACSA that it had secured 50 million litres of jet fuel from various suppliers.
On Friday, an additional 71.1 million litres were secured which brings the total to 121.1 million litres of jet fuel for OR Tambo.
The department said the jet fuel will be imported through the Port of Durban via three vessels and was expected to arrive on 1 February and 10 February 2025.
“The meeting agreed that all parties will work on a logistics plan to ensure the imported fuel supply moves from the Port of Durban to OR Tambo in time for airline needs,” the department said.
“Parties agreed it is necessary to build a fuel reserve to serve as a critical safety buffer for unforeseen circumstances such as delays, diversions, or unexpected changes in flight conditions.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said it will request an urgent Parliamentary Portfolio Committee hearing on the ongoing and growing breakdowns of service at South Africa’s major airports.
“Minister Creecy and the senior management of ACSA must be called to report to the committee on the scope of the brewing crisis, and their plans to address it,” said DA MP Dr. Chris Hunsinger, the party spokesperson on Transport,
“It is unacceptable that flights are being grounded at South African airports due to failures by entities within the Department of Transport.
“It simply cannot continue.”
Dr. Hunsinger added: “This week, flights were delayed and diverted at Cape Town International Airport due to a fuel pump failure under the management of ACSA.
“Earlier this month, alarming reports revealed that ACSA has fuel supply at OR Tambo International Airport only until the end of January 2025, raising grave concerns about operational stability in February.
“Minister Creecy’s interventions in the aviation sector are falling woefully short, and we believe it is high time for plans to move forward from patch-up repairs to systemic improvement and upgrades.”
“Patch-up jobs will not keep our airports running in the long term.”
Dr. Chris Hunsinger said Transport Minister Creecy should bring the country and its economy that needs functioning airports into her confidence about how she and ACSA will restore order at our airports.
“We will hold her accountable and ensure that solutions are implemented,” said Dr. Hunsinger.
“The instability at our airports undermines business confidence and it cannot continue.”
Last year, during critical peak tourist season, repeated failures by Air Traffic Navigation Services disrupted flights and cost South Africa much-needed tourism revenue, said Dr. Hunsinger.
“We cannot allow this pattern of incompetence to hamstring our economy further,” the DA transport spokesperson said.
“Every grounded plane represents lost revenue, weakened investor confidence, and damage to South Africa’s global reputation.
“Minister Creecy and her Department must act urgently and decisively to restore stability in the aviation sector, or else all South Africans will suffer the consequences of her inaction.”
