Independent oil company Afric Oil announced on Tuesday that it had received allocation from Transnet Pipelines, a subsidiary of Transnet and the principal operator of SA's fuel pipeline system, to move six million litres of diesel per month through the Durban-Johannesburg pipeline.
The allocation made Afric Oil the first independent black company - and eighth generally - to be given such an allocation, it said. The company is owned by Worldwide African Investment Holdings, a black economic empowerment (BEE) investment company.
Afric Oil would transport 1.5 million litres per week from Durban to the inland regions, where the majority of its customers were based.
Up until yesterday, the company relied on road transport to move its product to its inland-based, bulk-user customers.
“The allocation will assist Afric Oil in increasing our volumes for inland supplies and reduce our reliance on road transport, which is more expensive,” said Tseke Nkadimeng, Afric Oil's CEO.
The Durban-Johannesburg pipeline was the multiproduct pipeline operated by Transnet, which transports fuel from the coastal refineries to the inland storage facilities, making it the most efficient mode of transport available.
“We intend to fully participate in discussions on the security of supply for inland markets as well as the new pipeline under construction by Transnet,” Nkadimeng concluded. - I-Net Bridge
