The National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref) refinery has received sustainability certification for producing sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, becoming the first in Africa to do so.
Majority shareholder Sasol reported that the milestone follows a successful International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC+) onsite audit by TÜV SÜD.
The refinery received certification for its use of cooking oil and vegetable oil co‑processing to produce sustainable jet fuel and renewable diesel.
Following certification, Sasol Executive Vice President: Business Building, Strategy and Technology, Sarushen Pillay, explained that it reflects the fuel supplier’s shift from ambition to delivery.
“This milestone demonstrates that Sasol can deliver certified sustainable fuels and chemicals at scale using existing assets in South Africa,” he said.
“Independent certification strengthens confidence in our transition strategy, our operating capability and our ability to compete in global low-carbon markets.”
Sasol declared the certification an indication that it is ready to supply certified fuels and chemicals into domestic, premium and export markets.
It added that the milestone reinforces Natref’s and Sasol’s Secunda operations’ role in supporting sustainable fuels production across the value chain.
“Certification enables access to markets and supports credible sustainability claims by ensuring products are independently verified,” noted Pillay.
Walter Reithmaier, CEO of TÜV SÜD´s Industry & Infrastructure Division, highlighted the importance of independent certification.
“Globally recognised certification schemes like ISCC PLUS, combined with impartial audits conducted by independent third parties like TÜV SÜD, are essential to demonstrate the sustainability, traceability and greenhouse gas reduction of products and processes,” he said at the time.
Sasol added that the certification further strengthens its position to support South Africa’s energy transition by enabling the supply of recognised sustainable fuels and chemicals from existing local assets.
South Africa’s pursuit of sustainable energy
During his keynote address at this year’s Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (Fiasa) Imbizo, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe called on the fuel sector to adapt.
The minister mentioned the global energy supply chain disruption due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, noting its negative effect on fuel-importing countries like ours.
To combat the local fuel supply uncertainty, Mantashe said South Africa would be expanding its refining capacity to ensure there would be no disruptions in the future.
“You see, now our refining capacity, if you take the two refineries and Sasol, they give us security for 40% of our need,” he noted.
“The rest is dependent on imported processed goods, and that must change. There must be a balance in that issue, which is why the state is committed with limited resources to revitalise Sapref and make it operational again.”
Mantashe declared that the government is committed to expanding the Petroleum, Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa’s (PetroSA’s) refining capacity to take overall internal refining to over 40%.
Beyond improving the country’s refining capacity, the government is also pushing for greater investment in sustainable alternatives like biofuels.
The minister explained that biofuel represents an important opportunity for South Africa, which is conducting experiments on the fuel alternative in Bothaville.
“If it works, it will be widespread, and I think the industry is beginning to look into biofuels broadly as an alternative,” said Mantashe.
“The crisis has actually heightened the need and the demand for us to move with speed to biofuels so that our internally developed technologies can replace dependence on imported technologies.”
The publication of regulated biofuel prices last year marked an important step in providing regulatory certainty and creating conditions conducive to investment.
“The bill seeks to strengthen regulation, support economic transformation, promote cleaner fuel standards, improve market efficiency, and provide greater certainty for investors,” the minister said.
“The legislation is currently progressing through the cabinet processes before being submitted to parliament.”
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