Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe on Wednesday said there is no reason to panic about fuel shortages in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East as South Africa has eight million barrels of strategic fuel reserves.
“There is no reason to panic. The supply is secured…I can tell you up to the end of April,” Mantashe said.
He was responding to ANC MP Fasiha Hassan, who asked whether the current petroleum supply security arrangements were adequate enough to withstand a sustained an external supply shock.
Mantashe said her question reflected the panic in society and that he had learnt as a mine worker that panic kills.
“Despite the heightened geopolitical risk, including disruption to the Middle East shipping routes, the Republic’s current petroleum supply security remains robust,” he said.
“The latest monitoring report confirms the overall supply is stable across petroleum projects, with imports arriving as planned through mid-April 2026 and inland supply is supported by stable refineries Sasol, SAPREF, and the coal-to-liquid refinery in Secunda,” he said.
Mantashe also said the Cape Town refinery maintenance shutdown will conclude in April.
“So that means it will add to the reliability of the supply in the country,” he said, adding that planned imports are covering the duration of the shutdown and connected measures.
Mantashe added that the LPG supply remained stable as this was sourced in the Atlantic Basin and the crude oil was sourced from Africa and the Atlantic Basin, not from the Middle East.
“It is the processed product that is sourced from the Middle East. So, every arrangement supplements what we normally source from the Middle East.”
“I am sure if you monitor the news, you will appreciate that even the Strait of Hormuz allows cargo to South Africa without interruption. So that means we have a chance of a stable supply over a long period,” he said.
“There should be no panic in society.”
DA MP James Lorimer asked about the barrels of crude oil that are available in the country.
“In the strategic fuel stock, we have eight million barrels of oil. It will be used when there is a real crisis,” said Mantashe.
Freedom Front Plus MP Wynand Boshoff said he had information that Petro-SA has 25 million litres of diesel available, while they tell wholesalers and retailers that they have no stock.
“Could you assure us that the department has control over what Petro-SA says and what is the truth?” asked Boshoff.
Mantashe said they were monitoring the situation and stated that they were receiving various reports about people hoarding diesel in anticipation for the increased price.
He sent a stern warning to those who are engaged in the “illegal” hoarding of diesel.
“If we find you doing that, we are going to pursue you legally.”
Mantashe insisted that there is currently no shortage of diesel, petrol, paraffin or jet fuel.
“The reason that we are confident is that our department meets with the petroleum producers, all of them, twice a week to monitor the situation.
“When we articulate a position, we are not only talking about the state-owned entities.”
Pressed about what his department was doing to rebuild the country’s basic refining capabilities to reduce exposure to global supply shocks and price volatility, Mantashe said they would continue rebuilding the surplus.
“We will continue rebuilding Petro-SA and increase our refining capacity, but for this crisis that is current, we depend on what is in place” he said.
“We have got a reliable supply of energy and people should relax and not be panicking” said Mantashe.
