South Africa’s largest petrol producer, Sasol, has ramped up production at one of its key refineries by 76%, as it prepares to shut the plant down for scheduled maintenance in early 2027.
The refinery in question, Natref, is based in Sasolburg and is jointly owned by Sasol and TotalEnergies. It produced 25.8 million barrels in the financial year ending 30 June 2026, up sharply from 14.7 million barrels the year before.
Sasol said the increase came from resolving crude oil supply issues and making use of spare capacity from its partner, Prax South Africa, which is currently going through business rescue.
The push to boost output now is largely about protecting fuel supply later. With Natref set to go offline for maintenance in the first quarter of 2027, Sasol has been building up local fuel stockpiles to avoid shortages while the refinery is down.
In its year end results, the company said it focused on what it could control: safety, performance, cost, and capital discipline. It credited its integrated supply chains with keeping fuel and chemical products flowing despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and said stronger production and better economic conditions late in the year helped it meet or beat its own targets.
Sasol’s Secunda plant also recorded its best output in five years, while Natref stayed strong through the final quarter. As a result, the company cut its external fuel purchases by more than half.
Looking ahead, Sasol warned that things could stay unpredictable, citing ongoing tension in the Middle East and shifting market conditions. It said it plans to stay focused on keeping operations steady and adapting quickly as things change.
Separately, South Africa’s government has published draft rules requiring fuel companies to keep emergency stockpiles on hand. The move follows a global fuel scare earlier this year, sparked by the conflict between the US and Iran, which caused panic buying and left some petrol stations rationing fuel.
Under the proposed policy, fuel manufacturers and wholesalers would be required to hold emergency reserves, which could only be released during an official state of emergency, with the final decision resting with the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.
