Will Astron energy re-open its Cape Town refinery?
Astron Energy is aiming to re-open its Cape Town refinery, formerly Caltex Chevron Refinery, by the end of this year, says CEO Thabiet Booley. This past week, the liquid fuels company unveiled its new look service stations launching a massive drive to rebrand from Caltex to Astron Energy.
How many oil refineries are left in South Africa?
South Africa has only one oil refinery left in operation and even that could close within a year following the string of cancelled projects and accidents on out-dated facilities. Sapref Refinery ‘s 10 February announcement that it was suspending its 170,000-bpd operations in Durban came as little surprise to the South African downstream sector.
Why is South Africa reopening its oil refinery?
The restart of the refinery will help South Africa secure petroleum supplies as many other refineries in the country look to shut down permanently. BUSINESS REPORT The country’s third largest refinery says it’s in the final stages of reinstating production.
Does Cape Town need a new refining capacity?
“While we appreciate the return to full operation of the Cape Town refinery, we are also mindful of the need for investments in a new refining capacity, particularly in light of the recent oil and gas discoveries both in the South African and Namibian waters,” Mantashe said. BUSINESS REPORT
Where is our refinery located?
Our refinery is located between residential communities in the Cape Town area, so we take extra care to make sure we take the necessary steps to protect our employees, their families and our neighbouring communities. Petroleum refining is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world.
Why is Cape Town’s last energy plant out of service?
The country’s fourth and last plant, a 100,000-bpd facility in Cape Town owned by Astron Energy, has been out of service since July 2020 for similar reasons. The crux of the issue is the age of the factories, as all were built in the 1960s, making them prone to frequent malfunctions and rising maintenance costs.