According to the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), talks are underway with a range of stakeholders, including airlines, over steps to address and lessen a “potential crisis” pertaining to fuel supply at airports.
Following ongoing engagements between SAPIA, the South African Revenue Service (SARS), and individual petroleum companies to resolve a tax dispute relating to the use of the multi-product pipeline from Durban to Johannesburg and related storage facilities, ACSA released a statement on Wednesday evening on behalf of the South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA).
According to ACSA, which is involved in discussions with the stakeholders, this is one of the worries over the detrimental effects of the fuel scarcity on its airport operations.
The condition of the inland refinery, which supplies the majority of the jet fuel used at OR Tambo International Airport and is getting ready for a temporary shutdown perhaps in May or June of this year, is another problem. This will increase the airport’s dependency on petroleum imported from Durban.
“These occurrences have been expected, and the supply of jet fuel will continue via the aforementioned detours. The corporation states, “Unfortunately, the challenges posed by the SARS impasse with the parties coincide with this planned shutdown.”
This is the cause of the possible jet fuel supply problem, and as mentioned, ACSA, SARS, and SAPIA have been debating and are completing the implementation of the backup plans to prevent this from happening.
“While the refinery was getting ready for the shutdown, OR Tambo International Airport’s total fuel supply levels recently dropped below the suggested five-day buffer. The fuel stockpile’s five-day duration acts as a safety net against unplanned, transient disruptions in the jet fuel supply chain.”
ACSA continues by stating that it is in communication with all parties involved in trying to resolve these issues and asks for patience from all parties involved until we hear back from SARS, SAPIA, and the petroleum corporations with a definite resolution to this subject.
“ACSA would like to reiterate that SAPIA, which uses ACSA’s infrastructure, and fuel suppliers are accountable for maintaining sufficient supplies of jet fuel to meet airline demands. Accurate demand forecasting allows airlines to plan ahead, secure fuel suppliers’ contracts, and supply demand.
It is the duty of SAPIA and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to guarantee supply security and continuity. Consequently, some suppliers have informed their airline clients that there would be a decrease in their supply as a result of the aforementioned issue, and airlines are making operational decisions to account for this impact on their services. To get the most recent information on the steps being taken to address and lessen this possible crisis, ACSA maintains continuous communication with SARS, SAPIA, fuel suppliers, and the airlines themselves.”
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