South African tax authorities extend special licences for jet fuel import, storage, ensuring airport supply stability until October 2026

SOUTH AFRICA – South African tax authorities have granted a one-year extension for special storage warehouse (SOS) licences that allow the import and storage of jet fuel, providing crucial relief to airports facing supply challenges.

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has extended these licences until 31 October 2026, enabling continued operations under these permits and helping to safeguard the country’s aviation fuel supply amid ongoing refinery capacity challenges.

The extension covers aviation kerosene stored in licensed tanks and supplied via the multi-product pipeline to key airports, including OR Tambo International Airport, one of Africa’s busiest passenger hubs.

Illuminating kerosene, a vital fuel widely used for household cooking in communities across South Africa, is also included under the extended licence coverage.

The Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (FIASA) warmly welcomed the move, describing it as “a critical intervention in safeguarding South Africa’s security of supply,” particularly for the aviation sector and households relying on illuminating kerosene.

South Africa’s import and movement of aviation and illuminating kerosene are heavily regulated under the Customs and Excise Act, requiring SOS licence holders to adhere strictly to compliance standards.

The extension effectively continues the special arrangements that were initially granted last year, allowing operators to store and manage critical kerosene supplies at strategic facilities, including licensed warehouses connected to the national pipeline system.

This licence renewal comes as South Africa grapples with significant refinery capacity constraints.

Over the past five years, the country has lost approximately half of its total refinery capacity, causing notable jet fuel supply bottlenecks at major airports.

The January 2025 fire incident at the Natref refinery, a crucial inland refinery majority-owned by Sasol and one of the main jet fuel producers, exacerbated these challenges.

Following this, the national transport department intervened to secure over 121 million litres of jet fuel for OR Tambo International Airport, ensuring continuity of supply at the continent’s busiest passenger facility.

With refinery disruptions and imports increasingly central to meeting demand, the extension of SOS licences ensures that operators have the necessary legal framework to import, store, and distribute jet fuel efficiently.

This measure bolsters South Africa’s aviation infrastructure resilience while supporting vital energy access for households using illuminating kerosene for cooking and heating.

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