No cerosine shortage at JNB
A few days ago, flooding caused significant damage to the KwaZulu-Natal province, including the rail network leading to Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, effectively disrupting its fuel supply.
"The supply of jet fuel to airlines operating flights to and from OR Tambo International Airport is stable and continues to meet airline demand. This is despite disruptions in jet fuel transportation due to a number of factors, starting with the damage to rail infrastructure caused by the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), resulting in some companies declaring force majeure." This is the gist of the statement signed by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) CEO Mpumi Mpofu, issued on Tuesday 26 April 2022.
It should be noted that as a result of the said floods, about 140 sections of Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) lines were damaged on the way to Johannesburg. Of the 67 tanker cars en route to OR Tambo Airport, only 11 arrived. Pending full repair of the damaged infrastructure by 9 June at the earliest, ACSA, TFR and the petroleum distributors have agreed to transport the remaining 56 tankers to the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (NATREF) in Sasolburg for onward movement to OR Tambo.
"CASA has issued a notice to airmen, to formally inform international and domestic airlines worldwide, if required, to refuel from other CASA airports as supply is not impeded. Tambo's international airports are currently operating on a three to four day supply which will be maintained over the next six weeks," ACSA warned.
"We have confirmation from the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (NATREF) of an additional 14 million litres of jet fuel. In addition, we expect a delivery of 10 million litres on 5 May, which will help stabilise ACSA's fuel levels at approximately three to four days' supply," adds the state-owned operator of the country's nine major airports.
