The Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (FIASA) has warned motorists not to purchase large amounts of petrol and diesel in a panic over possible fuel shortages.
Since the start of the month, news headlines around the country have been dominated by updates and reports on the situation in the Middle East – one of the world’s primary oil-producing regions.
In late February, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran’s leadership, prompting the Islamic Republic to retaliate and plunging the region into a prolonged conflict.
The war’s effect on global oil prices was immediate, with the cost of Brent Crude oil skyrocketing to over $100 per barrel.
Iran has targeted oil-producing hubs in the Middle East and has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane that 20% of the world’s oil supply flows through every day.
These alarming events have caused widespread speculation over possible fuel shortages in South Africa, as most of our oil is imported from overseas.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) and the Fuels Industry Association have attempted to get ahead of these concerns, issuing statements that the country’s petroleum product supply is secure for the time being.
The DMPR also assured motorists that local suppliers are actively exploring alternative supply options outside the Strait of Hormuz, which are less impacted by ongoing events.
However, the lived experiences of local motorists tell a different story, as social media platforms have been flooded with stories of individuals experiencing high prices, fuel shortages, and rationing at petrol stations across the country.
Consequently, many households are already taking every opportunity to fill their cars to the brim, and some are bringing additional containers to stockpile as much fuel as possible.
Panic buying creating fuel shortages
FIASA condemned this behaviour, noting that these changes in consumer behaviour can negatively impact fuel stability.
In a recent interview with ENCA, FIASA representative Avhapfani Tshifularo explained that citizens need to work together to ensure the fuel supply remains stable.
“We need to tackle this as a collective. We’ve got a global crisis, which is impacting the way we supply fuel in the country,” he said.
“So it means what is important is that we need to stick to our own normal purchasing patterns. We don’t need to deviate from that, because otherwise we’ll create unnecessary imbalance in the supply chain.”
Tshifularo warned that irrational behaviour will result in the very shortages people are concerned about, as the fuel supply will only last if consumption remains at normal levels, which will be thrown out the window if motorists start hoarding fuel.
“If all of us start to behave in an irrational way, it’s going to create problems because the supply chain is designed to service the market in the normal way.”
“The normal way, it means you only visit the gas station when your petrol gauge is empty,” he said.
In a similar vein, Minister Ronald Lamola is urging car owners to seek out alternative fuel sources to ensure the country does not run out of petroleum products.
He highlighted that this is not the first time South Africa has been in a situation like this, as supply disruptions occurred during Covid, the July unrest, and the natural disasters in KZN and the Eastern Cape.
“South Africa must rise and build its own domestic capability so that we are self-sufficient during this difficult time. This moment of crisis calls for all of us to work together,” said Lamola.
The department encourages consumers experiencing fuel-related challenges to report these to [email protected], allowing the DMPR to respond and intervene where necessary.
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