Why does Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi urge higher jet-fuel stock levels in South Africa?

Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi urges higher jet-fuel stock levels because of supply vulnerabilities exposed by a recent production outage at Sasol’s Natref refinery, which prompted airlines to make backup plans and triggered an emergency meeting by the Department of Energy; he emphasized that operational plants are inherently unreliable ('they’ll go up, they’ll go down') and that current geopolitical tensions — particularly the Iran war — have disrupted both fuel prices and physical supply, making low inventory levels unacceptable.

What specific regulatory proposal has the South African Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources made regarding fuel reserves?

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources proposed in July that national fuel reserves cover 60 days of demand — two-thirds in crude oil and one-third in refined oil products — with licensed wholesalers and importers required to hold 21 days of inventory under the plan.

Sasol CEO Urges Higher Jet-Fuel Stock Levels Amid Supply Concerns

Sep 2, 2026

Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi urged higher jet-fuel inventory levels after a Natref refinery outage, citing Iran war risks. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources proposed mandatory reserves, while Vitol Group expands storage capacity in Durban.

bloomberg

2026-09-02

Sasol CEO Urges Higher Jet-Fuel Stock Levels Amid Supply Concerns

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