News / 14 April 2026 / Michael Taylor

Engen allegedly replacing 93 petrol due to fuel shortages in South Africa

Engen is allegedly replacing some of its 93 petrol with 95 petrol in South Africa due to fuel shortages.

The forecourt franchise is South Africa’s largest fuel station group, accounting for over 1,000 locations.

Engen is 74% owned by Vivo Energy, a subsidiary of Vitol that runs approximately 3,900 Engen and Shell filling stations across 28 African countries.

The company is primarily responsible for the supply and distribution of refined petroleum products and convenience services through its retail network.

Engen used to manage a crude oil refinery in Wentworth, Durban, which had a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day. However, the company ceased its refining operations in 2020.

The site was converted to an import terminal that now serves as an important link in the supply chain moving refined petroleum products inland.

Since Engen and Vivo Energy are part of Vitol, it has changed its operations in South Africa.

This partnership allows the company to source high-quality refined petrol from other countries instead of refining it locally.

Most of its fuel is now imported from the Middle East, coming from Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. It also receives some of its fuel from India.

The fuel is shipped to the Durban Import Terminal and Engen’s former refinery, after which it is pumped through Transnet’s Multi-Product Pipeline to reach inland regions like Gauteng.

Engen also purchases refined petroleum products from Sasol’s synfuels plant, and Astron Energy’s refinery in Cape Town.

All of this means that, while Engen receives some of its petrol from local suppliers, a significant portion comes from the Middle East.

Consequently, its supplies have been disrupted by the war between the United States and Iran, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Engen giving 95 Petrol to motorists buying 93 Petrol

Our sister publication MyBroadband was recently notified that Engen was experiencing 93 petrol shortages and was giving consumers 95 petrol 95 in its place.

93-octane petrol is the cheaper of the two fuels and is commonly used in inland regions as it provides a reasonable balance between fuel efficiency and power.

In South Africa, regulations require that petrol colour types are clearly differentiated to help motorists and distributors identify fuels at a glance.

Unleaded 93 petrol must be yellow or amber-coloured at the pump, while 95 is marked green.

This colour code applies to all petrol station groups to ensure consistency, meaning that the same system is used by Astron, Engen, Sasol, and Shell.

Members of our office recently visited several forecourts around Gauteng to see whether the information about Engen replacing 93 petrol with 95 was accurate.

All of the Astron, Sasol, and Shell stations provided 93 petrol, which was marked yellow.

However, when testing at multiple Engen garages, 95 petrol was provided when selecting 93.

One of the stations visited provided petrol that was an unusual yellow-green. It’s possible the fuel was a mixture of the two fuel octanes.

This seemingly confirmed that Engen was providing 95 petrol at some of its locations when opting for 93 petrol.

Engen clarifies use of unleaded fuels at its stations

Engen has since contacted our office to clarify the specifications of Primax unleaded fuels at its service stations.

It noted that its Primax Unleaded 93 petrol “meets and exceeds the requirements set out in the South African National Standard, South African Bureau of Standards specification SANS 1598, which governs fuel quality in South Africa.”

“In line with this standard, the octane rating for Unleaded 93 petrol is defined as a minimum of 93.”

“Any fuel with an octane rating above this threshold remains fully compliant and is considered to be of higher quality.”

The company assured motorists that variations above the minimum octane level will have no adverse effect on their vehicle, adding that it will not cause mechanical damage or negatively impact performance or operability.

Additionally, Engen commented that Unleaded 95 is a premium fuel grade.

It reasoned that, since 95 petrol is more expensive than 93, the use of 95 represents a financial benefit to the consumer.

Engen also clarified that all Unleaded 93 supplied within its network is sourced from local refineries and is not imported.

It added that, under South Africa’s national standards, the use of fuel dye is not mandatory.

“While some oil companies apply dye as a visual differentiator between fuel grades, its use is primarily limited to specific operational requirements, such as injection into the multipurpose pipeline.”

“Engen remains committed to maintaining the highest fuel quality standards, ensuring safe, reliable, and compliant products for all customers.”