By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy delivered a keynote address at the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa Annual Imbizo held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.
Creecy described the fuels sector as one of the country’s most strategic industries owing to its role in enabling mobility, supporting trade and logistics and underpinning economic activity.
She said government recognised that a resilient and efficient fuel supply chain were key to the functioning of the economy, particularly as South Africa sought to reverse the decline in the logistics performance following the Covid-19 period.
“Our primary position as a logistics hub on the subcontinent is now open to competition from our neighbours, who aim to capitalise on our vulnerabilities.”
“In this context, we can’t afford to be complacent, and we must ensure that our transport sector has reliable and secure energy reserves that will assist us in resuming our role as the gateway to the continent, “Creecy said.
She added that the Department of Transport was pursuing an ambitious reform programme aligned with the priorities of the Seventh administration, including infrastructure development, improved policy certainty and a stronger oversight of State-owned entities operating in the transport and logistics sectors.
She told the imbizo that the future growth of the liquid fuels industry requires “modern, efficient, safe and well-regulated infrastructure and… government frameworks that provide certainty to investors, transparency to infrastructure users and confidence to the broader market”.
“The [department], working closely with Transnet and the Transnet Ports Authority is promoting several initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure planning, operation efficiency, safety and long-term investment in the Island View precinct [at the Port of Durban].”
“These interventions seek to ensure that the precinct continues to meet current demand requirements, while positioning South Africa to accommodate future growth in fuel imports, storage capacity and associated logistics services,” she stated.
Creecy assured the industry leaders that government is committed to working with the industry.
“We are committed to creating a transport and logistics environment that is efficient, competitive, sustainable and capable of meeting the needs of a growing economy.”