Jet Fuel Shortage Hits South Africa’s Biggest Airport. What Airlines Are Doing About It

A problem at South Africa’s Natref refinery is putting pressure on jet-fuel supplies at O.R. Tambo International Airport, raising concerns about possible disruptions at one of Africa’s busiest aviation hubs.

Sasol said on August 26 that an unplanned shutdown of a downstream unit at Natref had affected its ability to meet some fuel supply commitments, including jet fuel for customers at O.R. Tambo.

For now, there is no sign of a widespread flight shutdown. But airlines are already taking precautions to protect their schedules.

What happened at Natref?

The immediate problem began at Natref after an unplanned shutdown of one of its downstream units.

Sasol said it would continue to supply some jet fuel to customers at O.R. Tambo while it worked to restore normal operations. The company is also putting mitigation measures in place to limit the impact on customers.

The disruption followed planned maintenance at Natref that was compounded by a technical problem, according to FlySafair's explanation of the situation.

That matters because O.R. Tambo is a major connecting point for domestic and international flights in Southern Africa. A prolonged shortage would put pressure on airlines that depend on the airport for regular refuelling.

Airlines are already looking for alternatives

FlySafair says its operations remain protected for now.

The airline has arranged to temporarily increase supplies from alternative providers that still have fuel available. It is also considering a moderate amount of fuel tankering, where aircraft carry additional fuel from another airport so they need less fuel when they arrive at a location facing supply constraints.

Tankering can help airlines keep flying when fuel supplies are uncertain, but it is not particularly efficient. Extra fuel adds weight to an aircraft, which means the aircraft burns more fuel carrying that additional load.

For airlines, however, keeping aircraft moving is the immediate priority.

Should passengers be worried?

At the moment, there is no evidence of widespread cancellations because of the shortage.

FlySafair said it is not currently looking to cancel flights and that its contingency measures are protecting its operations.

That does not mean the situation can be ignored.

If the disruption at Natref lasts longer than expected, airlines could face increasing pressure to source fuel elsewhere. That could raise operating costs and potentially create knock-on effects for schedules and ticket prices.

There has already been a coordinated response from the industry. The Department of Energy convened an emergency meeting with Airports Company South Africa and the Fuels Industry Association of Southern Africa, according to the Airlines Association of Southern Africa.

For now, O.R. Tambo continues to operate. The bigger concern is how long alternative supplies can cover the gap if Natref does not return to normal operations quickly.

Why this matters beyond South Africa

The disruption is a reminder of how dependent aviation is on a reliable fuel supply chain.

Airlines cannot simply operate normally if fuel becomes unavailable at a major hub. They have to find alternative suppliers, carry additional fuel or adjust their operations, all of which can increase costs.

For South Africa, the immediate focus is getting Natref back to normal while ensuring that O.R. Tambo continues to receive enough jet fuel.

Sasol says Natref is working to restore normal operations and that further updates will be provided as the situation develops.

For passengers, the situation is worth watching — but there is no indication that flights from O.R. Tambo are about to stop.