Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe said there is no reason to panic about fuel shortages in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East.
Image: GCIS
South Africans can breathe easy despite concerns over fuel supply disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said on Wednesday. The country holds eight million barrels of strategic fuel reserves, he confirmed, providing a buffer against potential shortages.
“There is no reason to panic. The supply is secured...I can tell you up to the end of April,” Mantashe told Parliament, responding to ANC MP Fasiha Hassan’s questions on whether South Africa’s petroleum supply arrangements are resilient enough to withstand a prolonged external shock.
Mantashe described the growing societal anxiety as unnecessary, saying, “I learnt as a mine worker that panic kills.” He reassured lawmakers that, despite the heightened geopolitical risks and possible disruptions to Middle East shipping routes, South Africa’s petroleum supply remains stable.
He explained that monitoring reports show imports are arriving as scheduled through mid-April 2026, while inland supply is supported by Sasol, SAPREF, and the Secunda coal-to-liquid refinery. Mantashe also noted that the Cape Town refinery’s maintenance shutdown will conclude in April, with planned imports covering the shutdown period.
On LPG and crude oil, the minister said supply is unaffected by Middle East unrest, as LPG is sourced from the Atlantic Basin, and crude oil comes from Africa and the Atlantic Basin. Only processed petroleum products are sourced from the Middle East, and South Africa has arrangements to supplement these supplies. “Even cargo through the Strait of Hormuz is reaching us without interruption,” Mantashe said.
When questioned by DA MP James Lorimer about the volume of crude oil, Mantashe confirmed that the strategic fuel stock includes eight million barrels, which would be deployed in the event of a real crisis.
Freedom Front Plus MP Wynand Boshoff raised concerns about Petro-SA’s diesel stock, claiming that the company had 25 million litres of diesel available but told wholesalers and retailers otherwise. Mantashe said his department was monitoring the situation closely and issued a stern warning against illegal hoarding, stating, “If we find you doing that, we are going to pursue you legally.”
He emphasised that there are no current shortages of diesel, petrol, paraffin, or jet fuel, highlighting the department’s twice-weekly meetings with all petroleum producers to track supply conditions.
Pressed on plans to rebuild South Africa’s refining capacity to reduce dependence on global markets, Mantashe said, “We will continue rebuilding Petro-SA and increasing refining capacity, but for this current crisis, we depend on what is in place.”
He concluded with a clear message to the public: “We have a reliable supply of energy, and people should relax and not be panicking.”
DAILY NEWS