S-Af: Move over, energy and food crises

The South African fuel industry is facing a crisis that is going to make Eskom’s problems look like a picnic, the Fuel Retailers’ Association (FRA) says.

This is because the pipelines used to get fuel from refineries along the coast to inland distribution points are crumbling and refineries past their lifespan are unable to cope with increasing demands.
Imported fuel has to be transported by road, because of the dire state of the pipelines, and the inability of the country’s rail network to deliver.

“Nobody is building stockpiles, which is something we need as demands increase,” says Peter Morgan, the director of the FRA.

He says South Africa has imported fuel for years because the country’s refineries are unable to make enough for local needs.

Once the petrol or diesel is imported, the ability to transport it inland is limited “because the pipelines cannot cope, the rail system cannot cope”.

IOL