Industry stakeholders have flagged possible jet fuel supply challenges later in 2025 as industry leaders are voicing urgent concerns about potential disruptions to air travel.
According to Avhapfani Tshifularo, CEO of the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (Fiasa), maintenance work at the Natref refinery, which is slated between August and September, may impact fuel supply continuity, depending on regulatory and logistical factors.
‘Although this is not a problem with the security of jet fuel supply, it is indeed a challenge with regulatory compliance,’ he explained on Travel News.
The repercussions are particularly felt among the members of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (Barsa).
‘Airlines operate on a model where they depend on the fuel inventory sold in advance. If they are not guaranteed fuel upon arrival, they face elevated operational costs due to tankering or rerouting flights to alternative airports for refuelling. This situation can result in a significant increase in expenses and uncertainty regarding operational planning,’ added Barsa CEO George Mothema.
The core issue lies in the outdated 1964 Customs and Excise Act, which mandates that jet fuel must be shipped through a licensed manufacturing warehouse or refinery.
With only Natref and Astron in Cape Town as operational refineries, the possibility of supply bottlenecks increases, particularly during maintenance windows at Natref.
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Tshifularo further cautioned that even if fuel stocks were adequately bolstered ahead of the refinery’s maintenance shutdown, the risk of shortages at major airports remains. In anticipation of this, Fiasa has called for immediate interim regulatory measures to facilitate fuel imports directly through terminals while advocating for long-term reforms.
In the meantime, stakeholders convened at a Fuel Forum on August 4, where representatives from Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), airlines and fuel suppliers convened to assess risks and develop contingency plans.
ACSA stated it is working on short-term options to ensure airport storage is optimally maintained, particularly before the expiration of certain regulatory exemptions.
Meanwhile, Aaron Munetsi, CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (Aasa), expressed a degree of confidence based on the discussions held at the forum.
‘From the information presented, we believe that adequate contingencies are in place to avert any fuel shortages or disruptions,’ he commented.
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