This petrol alternative costs R12 per litre – But there’s a catch

There is a R12 per litre alternative to petrol in South Africa, but a lack of infrastructure means it is difficult for many citizens to make the switch.

This is according to Kyle Hartley, managing director at Isinkwe Energies, a leading proponent of LPG Autogas in South Africa.

Fuel prices are incredibly high in South Africa right now, with petrol costing R21.40 per litre as of May 2025.

These high prices are primarily the result of external factors such as the global trading price of Brent Crude oil and the strength of different currencies.

Oil prices are based on the US dollar, which means the rand/dollar exchange rate has a direct impact on the cost of importing the precious liquid.

Both of these factors are influenced by geo-political events such as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and this is compounded even further by local factors within South Africa.

Political instability and weak economic growth have deteriorated the value of the rand, exacerbating the cost of importing fuel.

In light of South Africa’s high fuel prices, alternatives such as LPG autogas are starting to take off.

LPG is a byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining, which consists of a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases that can be burned as fuel.

The two main components of LPG – propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10) – are compressed into a liquid state in a low-pressure environment to make transportation and storage easier.

The substance is commonly employed in household uses like cooking and heating, but it is rapidly gaining momentum as an alternate fuel source for combustion-engine vehicles.

Hartley recently explained to BusinessTech that LPG Autogas is roughly 40% cheaper than traditional petrol at R12 per litre, in contrast to May’s official rate of R21.40 per litre for petrol 95.

Admittedly, this price varies by province, as coastal regions are currently paying around R14.15 per litre, but this is still much less than conventional fuel prices.

However, one complication is that regular cars are not designed to run on LPG, which means they need to undergo a conversion process.

The conversion kits that prepare the engine to support both petrol and LPG cost around R26,000, excluding VAT, though the exact sticker will depend on the vehicle type and model.

Growing demand

Hartley noted that the demand for LPG autogas fuel is rapidly growing in South Africa in response to high petrol and diesel rates.

This claim was supported at the 2024 Automechanika and Futuroad Expo held at the end of last year, where industry leaders claimed that LPG had the potential to become a mainstream fuel alternative to small businesses, fleet operators, and private motorists.

The only problem with this vision is that South Africa currently has very little refuelling infrastructure to support LPG, limiting its rollout.

While there is no specific database tracking the number of LPG-supported fuel stations, only a handful of locations can be found in major cities around the country.

Hartley stated that Gauteng has access to a few LPG forecourts, two of which are Sasol stops in Kempton Park and Centurion.

Additionally, he said that Isinkwe Energies’ first dedicated Autogas station in Gauteng is scheduled to open in Midrand this July.

The company also plans to open a second station in KwaZulu-Natal in Pinetown later this year in September.

In Cape Town, there are two Easyway filling stations near Cape Town International Airport and Salt River, and another is in development in Strand.

One other factor to consider with LPG is that most car manufacturers still need to approve the conversion kits under their warranty policies.

“Currently, five manufacturers in South Africa approve our system and maintain warranty validity post-conversion,” said Hartley.

He added that Isinkwe Energies is currently working to expand its strategic partnership with more carmakers, and that it intends to grow the LPG refuelling network around the country.