PetroSA refinery restarts

Posted by Claire Manning

South Africa's oil industry is almost back on track once again as PetroSA restarts gas-to-liquids refinery.

The development should ease a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) across the country which has been so severe a number of petrol stations have had to close.

PetroSA should be back to producing some 45,000 barrels per day, the organisation claimed.

"The refinery came on line at the weekend," spokesman Thabo Mabaso explained.

"We did it in terms of our supply commitments to our clients."

The LPG shortage occurred as four of the countries six refineries closed within weeks of each other, some of which were planned while others were not.

Engen Petroleum's refineries closed following a fire and for routine maintenance, while PetroSA shut down as a result of steam line failure.

Recently, Engen and Chevron SA claimed that they were experiencing difficulties in getting fuel to petrol stations, with scores of sites running dry.