Natref refinery shutdown disrupts jet fuel supplies

FlySafair has confirmed a disruption of services at OR Tambo International Airport this week as a result of a jet fuel shortage.

The disruption follows planned maintenance at the Natref refinery.

In a statement, Sasol says the Natref refinery has experienced an unplanned shutdown of a downstream unit, which has impacted its ability to meet its full supply commitments of certain product grades, including jet fuel.

Sasol said it would continue to partially supply its jet fuel customers at OR Tambo while actively implementing mitigation measures, and that Natref is working to restore normal operations as soon as possible.

FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gordon says for now their services are completely protected by contingencies that have been put in place.

He said: “There have been some disruptions to the expected jet fuel supply dynamics at OR Tambo this week, with a number of factors coming into play affecting the various suppliers.”

“For now, FlySafair operations are completely protected by contingencies that we’ve put in place to temporarily increase supply from those suppliers with available fuel, but we continue to monitor things and work with various parties as the situation develops.”

SOURCES: Business Day, Citizen, Business Tech, SABC, Sasol and various others.