Motorists in the interior of South Africa may experience ongoing fuel shortages this week due to damage to a Transnet pipeline carrying fuel from Durban to Gauteng.

In the current financial year, Transnet pipelines have already suffered 21 incidents of tampering by perpetrators hoping to steal fuel. The 61cm diameter multiproject pipeline in question stretches from Durban to Jameson Park in Johannesburg.

The damage to the pipeline, which was done between Villiers in the Free State, Heidelberg in Gauteng and in Mpumalanga’s Balfour area, has already been repaired, but could lead to delays in the provision of fuel to distribution points in the interior.

The latest petrol shortage comes in the wake of a nationwide diesel shortage over the past two weeks, which has led to the rationing of diesel.

The delay in supply was caused by the fact that the country’s six refineries were shut down during the national lockdown. The refineries convert crude oil into diesel and petrol, as well as other petroleum byproducts such as paraffin.

The damage to the Transnet pipeline will, however, lead to delays in the transportation of fuel to the interior, which could lead to shortages.

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Gavin Kelly, technical and operations manager at the Road Freight Association of SA, said the issue would not have any effect on the availability of food.

“People should be careful about any unnecessary panic, and focus on the facts.”

The recent increase in the fuel price had also led to increased buying by members of the public and contributed to the current shortage, said Kelly.

“But it is not yet a large-scale problem. It’s important for people not to go out and buy fuel in bulk right now, because that is what would cause problems,” said Kelly.

The SA Petroleum Industry Association said in a statement that all refineries were operating normally again and that South Africa had sufficient stocks of diesel and petrol.

Kevin Mileham, DA spokesperson on energy and mining, said that certain sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and the long-distance transportation industry – which rely heavily on diesel use – had continued with their activities during the lockdown. This resulted in demand exceeding supply.

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A poll by AMT, a South African company that specialises in market analysis and forecasts in the agricultural industry, shows that 39% of farmers who participated in the poll are experiencing fuel shortages.

A maize farmer from North West said he was worried that the current fuel shortage could have a negative effect on his operations. “I am harvesting and I only have enough diesel left for a week. I tried ordering this week but not a single one of the suppliers has any stock,” he said.

Requier Wait of Agri SA confirmed that consumers in the interior of the country were experiencing shortages, but did not anticipate any long-term problems for farmers.

Corné Louw of Grain SA said the organisation supported the rationing of fuel so that there would be enough to go around and for harvesting to continue.

https://www.news24.com/citypress/business/theft-may-cause-fuel-shortages-20200606