The Western Cape Government has warned fuel suppliers against withholding diesel deliveries to customers, despite assurances that the province has sufficient reserves to meet demand amid concerns over the Middle East conflict.
While the government maintains there is no fuel shortage in the Western Cape, isolated reports have emerged of suppliers rationing deliveries, particularly affecting the agricultural sector in the Garden Route and West Coast districts.
Agri Western Cape reports that some farmers are receiving only 20% of their usual monthly diesel allocations, raising concerns as the province enters the critical fruit picking and winter grain planting season.
Premier Alan Winde said suppliers delaying fuel delivery whilst waiting for prices to increase would face legal consequences.
“There is no cause for concern. There is more than enough fuel in reserve. All suppliers must immediately release full orders of fuel to all clients. We will not tolerate suppliers unethically holding onto fuel, while our agricultural sector is under pressure,” said Winde.
The Provincial Disaster Management Centre is monitoring the situation in coordination with the Fuel Industry Association of South Africa, Agri Western Cape, regional disaster management centres, the Department of Health and Wellness emergency medical services and Eskom.
The association is working with Agri Western Cape to identify fuel suppliers engaged in rationing.
The premier said the timing could not be worse for the agricultural sector, which is already under pressure from foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks.
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“Fuel is a critical resource for the agricultural sector, particularly as we head into the fruit picking and winter grain planting season. This is a sector already under pressure as a result of foot-and-mouth disease, it is unacceptable that unnecessary fuel rationing now poses an additional stressor,” he said.
The government confirmed that all other sectors, including provincial government departments, are not experiencing fuel shortages at this stage.
The Western Cape Government said it would continue monitoring the situation and provide updates as necessary.
The conflict in the Middle East, centred on the Strait of Hormuz which transports a significant portion of the world’s fuel supply, has raised global concerns about potential disruptions to energy markets.
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