Sasol Ltd., South Africa’s biggest fuel producer, restarted the Natref refinery it owns with TotalEnergies SE after delayed oil deliveries last month resulted in a shutdown.
The disruption caused Sasol to declare a force majeure on petroleum products, which remains in effect. The 108,000 barrel-a-day plant is now “online and production ramp-up is in progress,” the company said in response to emailed questions.
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Natref’s shutdown also meant the whole of South Africa’s oil-refinery fleet was out of action as a series of other facilities suspended production over the past two years. The plants have faced costly upgrades to meet pending cleaner-fuel regulations.
South Africa has delayed the implementation of those rules from next year to 2027.
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Sasol welcomed the deadline extension by the energy department as the company continues “to evaluate options” for the Natref plant.
