Government Seeks to Ease Fears of Fuel Shortages Amid Middle East Crisis

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has moved to calm concerns about possible fuel shortages in South Africa as global tensions in the Middle East continue to push oil prices higher.

In a statement issued this week, the department said it remains in constant contact with fuel companies operating in the country and is closely monitoring developments in international oil markets.

While the conflict has already started putting pressure on global crude prices, the department stressed that there is currently no immediate risk of fuel shortages in South Africa.

However, that reassurance comes as transport operators and motorists brace for a likely fuel price increase in April.

South Africa’s fuel price is heavily influenced by international oil prices and the exchange rate, meaning events far beyond the country’s borders can quickly affect the price truckers pay at the pumps.

According to the department, even though several local refineries have shut down over the past few years, the country still maintains domestic production through two remaining crude oil refineries, NATREF and Astron Energy, as well as the synthetic fuel plant operated by Sasol at Secunda.

These facilities rely largely on imported crude oil, most of which is sourced from West Africa and other African producers.

The Astron Energy refinery is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance, but authorities say the company has already secured enough fuel imports to maintain supply while the refinery is offline.

At the same time, fuel companies that normally import refined fuel from regions affected by the Middle East conflict are now looking for alternative suppliers to keep the local market stocked.

Despite those efforts, the department acknowledged that the rising price of crude oil internationally is expected to translate into higher fuel prices at South African pumps from April 2026.

The government said the current under-recovery in fuel prices has been fluctuating since tensions escalated in the Middle East, and officials will continue tracking the situation until the official fuel price adjustments are announced.

For the trucking industry, the concern is less about shortages and more about cost. With freight margins already under pressure from rising toll fees, maintenance costs and slow economic growth, any significant jump in diesel prices could add further strain on transport operators across the country.

Officials say they remain hopeful that geopolitical tensions will ease in the coming weeks, which could help stabilise oil markets and limit further pressure on fuel prices. Until then, truckers and fleet operators will be watching the next fuel price announcement closely.