By Levy Masiteng
South Africa is not facing an immediate fuel shortage despite rising global oil prices, but motorists should brace for higher pump prices from April, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has said.
“While prolonged geopolitical tensions may exert pressure on international oil prices, the Department wishes to assure the public that there is currently no immediate risk of fuel shortages in South Africa,” Mantashe said in a statement on Tuesday night.
ALSO READ: IEC sets June voter registration weekend
The statement comes as the war in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran rattled global energy markets and stoked fears of supply disruptions.
The conflict has disrupted key energy routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply passes, pushing up prices and increasing volatility in global oil markets.
Military strikes on energy infrastructure and attacks on shipping in the region have added to uncertainty and heightened concerns about the potential knock-on effect on fuel prices worldwide.
“Unfortunately, the continued rise in international crude oil prices is expected to result in higher fuel prices at the pump from April 2026,” he said.
He said under-recoveries on fuel prices have been fluctuating since the start of the conflict.
The department said that although several refineries have shut down, South Africa still has two operational crude oil refineries, NATREF and Astron Energy, as well as the Sasol Secunda coal-to-liquids plant, which continues to play a key role in domestic fuel production.
“These facilities rely on crude oil imports sourced primarily from West Africa and increasingly from other countries across the African continent,” Mantashe said.
ALSO READ: Fadiel Adams tells ad hoc committee to subpoena Crime Intelligence finances
He said that the Astron Energy refinery is undergoing a planned maintenance shutdown, but measures were in place to avoid supply disruptions.
“As part of standard operational planning, the company has secured sufficient fuel imports to cover supply requirements during this maintenance period,” he said.
Oil companies importing refined petroleum products from countries affected by the conflict were seeking alternative supply routes to protect the domestic market, he said.
