OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) is not currently at risk of a fuel supply disruption with a mitigation plan in place to manage the shortfall caused by the Natref refinery outage.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) Acting CEO Charles Shilowa provided this update during the company’s 2025/26 annual financial results announcement on September 9.
The announcement addresses concerns about the potential effect of the refinery shutdown on aviation fuel supplies.
The industry’s formal mitigation proposal was expected to be submitted to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy on August 31, according to an article published by the South African Government News Agency. Department of Transport Spokesperson Collen Msibi has since told Freight News that the proposal was submitted.
Shilowa told Freight News that ACSA worked with relevant stakeholders to develop a plan to cover the shortfall.
“The plan was put together with input from all the relevant stakeholders. We were able to come up with a plan indicating that we should not have any challenges until the refinery is back on stream,” he said.
Natref normally supplies about 70% of ORTIA’s jet fuel demand, requiring imports to cover the shortfall while the refinery remains offline.
ACSA and other stakeholders will continue meeting to monitor whether projected fuel supplies arrive as expected while Creecy is being briefed on the measures being implemented, Shilowa said.
Cargo expansion planned
ACSA also outlined plans to expand its capacity to support renewed growth in passenger and cargo volumes.
The company is targeting cargo throughput of 1.2 million tonnes by 2029/30, supported by the planned Midfield Cargo Terminal expected to add 750 000 tonnes of capacity.
The facility is expected to handle pharmaceuticals, e-commerce shipments, aerospace components, perishables, diamonds and metals and automotive cargo.
ACSA also expects an increase in capital project delivery with developments at ORTIA, Cape Town, George and King Phalo airports included in its capacity expansion pipeline.
