South Africa is taking decisive steps to reduce its reliance on imported refined petroleum products
South Africa is taking decisive steps to reduce its reliance on imported refined petroleum products, with the government looking to fast-track legislation and expand local refining capacity.
Speaking in Parliament during the tabling of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources’ 2026/27 budget earlier this week, Minister Gwede Mantashe said the country remains overly dependent on imported fuel, leaving it vulnerable to global price shocks and supply disruptions.
IOL previously reported that there is also growing concern that much of the country’s reserves are held as crude oil, meaning that even in the event of a release, the supply cannot be used immediately at scale without being refined into usable fuel such as petrol and diesel.
That could prove to be a major problem for South Africa, as much of the country’s refining capacity has declined in recent years.
