Government allays fears of fuel shortages as war drives price hike risk

The government has moved to allay fears of fuel shortages in South Africa as the war in the Middle East deepens, but motorists are likely to face higher petrol and diesel prices in April as global oil prices surge. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) said there is no immediate risk to the country’s fuel supply, despite the conflict pushing international crude oil prices sharply higher. “The Department remains in continuous contact with oil companies operating in the country to ensure the stability and security of fuel supply, while closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and their potential impact on global oil markets and fuel prices,” the department said.

However, the department warned that the spike in international oil prices is already feeding into South Africa’s fuel price calculations. Unfortunately, the continued rise in international crude oil prices is expected to result in higher fuel prices at the pump from April 2026. The department said the under-recovery on fuel prices has been fluctuating since the onset of the conflict, meaning the gap between the current pump price and the cost of importing fuel has widened.

Officials said the situation is being closely monitored ahead of the official April fuel price adjustment. The DMPR said South Africa’s supply position remains stable despite the closure of several domestic refineries in recent years. At present, the country relies on two operational crude oil refineries — NATREF and Astron Energy — as well as the Sasol Secunda coal-to-liquids plant, which plays a significant role in domestic fuel production. The Astron Energy refinery is currently undergoing a planned maintenance shutdown, but the department said the company had secured sufficient fuel imports to maintain supply during the maintenance period.