Temporary production cuts at the Caltex refinery in the Western Cape are expected to result in a petrol shortage in the province over the next two weeks.
Temporary production cuts at the Caltex refinery in the Western Cape are expected to result in a petrol shortage in the province over the next two weeks.
The reports that the Western Cape uses 45 million litres of high-octane fuel a month and there is now a shortfall of 10 million litres. The Caltex refinery in Milnerton is the only one in the province and supplies petrol to all the oil companies in the Western Cape.
Colin McClelland, director of the South African Petroleum Industry Association, told the newspaper that the shortage was a result of technical difficulties at Caltex, which means there are problems producing high-octane fuel (95 octane unleaded and 97 octane leaded petrol). The production of diesel and jet fuel is not affected.
“The next week until January 18 will be the tightest and there will be intermittent shortages at various petrol stations in the province,” he said.
McClelland said foreign shipments of fuel are expected in the Cape on January 25 and the problem should be solved then.
To help alleviate the problem slightly, Durban refineries will be sending petrol to the Cape. The first stock is expected on Monday, but the problem will only be solved once the foreign shipments arrive at the end of the month.
“The refinery is still running. They are doing their best and there is a highly specialised team working around the clock to minimise the impact of the problem,” McClelland said.
Motorists in the Cape have been advised not to let their tanks run too low before filling up.
