Over 140 petrol stations run dry in South Africa 24 hours before record price hikes

Well over 100 petrol stations are temporarily dry, putting major strain on the country’s fuel delivery system as motorists rush to fill up before record-high prices kick in. As of Monday, 30 March, News24 reported that 143 service stations had run out of diesel and 136 had no petrol, as demand surged in the final 24 hours before the expected increases take effect. However, industry leaders have said the issue is not a lack of fuel in the country, but the ability to get it to forecourts quickly enough.

According to the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa’s head of security of supply, Siganeko Magafela, supply depots still have stock available, but delivery networks are under pressure. “The logistics can’t keep up with the demand at the service stations currently. Some companies are reporting the demand [for volumes] is three times more than they normally [handle],” he said.

The association has in recent days started tracking the number of “dry tanks” for both diesel and 95 unleaded petrol, using data from industry members across the country. Magafela said these figures change constantly as fuel is delivered and sites are replenished, with stations that have run dry typically being prioritised. Despite the disruption, Magafela said the good news is that supply is still available at the depot level.

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“The chances of recovery in terms of the backlog are high… it’s just a matter of timing,” he said. The pressure on local fuel supplies comes amid heightened concern over global energy markets following tensions involving Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil and gas shipping routes. The closure has raised fears about global supply disruptions and added to already soaring fuel costs. South Africa has some protection from this because its crude oil is largely sourced from Africa and the Atlantic basin rather than the Middle East.

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