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Johannesburg - Independent fuel distribution company Puma Energy announced that January 2017 has marked the entry into operation of its new fuel storage facility at Richards Bay, as well as the start of aviation fuel supply to the OR Tambo International Airport.
Coinciding with the first anniversary of its launch into the South African market in February 2016, the company said in a statement that the entry into operation of the Richards Bay facility is another significant infrastructure investment into South Africa’s fuel sector.
Housed at the Bidvest Tank Terminal (BTT) in Richards Bay, Puma Energy has established this new storage facility in response to increased demand for refined products, driven by greater market needs for higher grade fuels.
"This facility will secure energy supply to the market as well as creating jobs. Furthermore, the Richards Bay terminal will help unlock the potential of the Richards Bay Port, the neighbouring Industrial Development Zone, and the KwaZulu-Natal region as a whole," according to Puma.
The site at Richards Bay, which is operational around the clock, will allow fuel to be distributed by rail and road. The facility is a premium products terminal with a storage capacity of 46 million litres to house diesel minimum 50ppm, mogas 95, JetA1 and liquid paraffin.
Mogas 95 was the first product to be imported and discharged into the tanks on the weekend of 13th January, diesel 50ppm was discharged during the week of 16th January and the terminal will be dispatching its first truck for delivery into the local market this week.
The Richards Bay storage facility adds to the opening last year of the 110 million litres Matola Storage Terminal in neighbouring Mozambique, Puma Energy’s second largest storage capacity in Africa.
Airport
Puma Energy started operations at the Johannesburg airport on 1 January 2017, strengthening its African network and enhancing supply security to the international airport.
"With fuel being transported by road and rail, security of supply has now significantly improved for JetA1 into OR Tambo International Airport thanks to the new supply routes from these two state of the art terminals in Maputo and Richards Bay. OR Tambo brings the number of airports where Puma Energy operates to 68," the company said.
Seamus Kilgallon, global head of Puma Energy’s aviation division, said through the new airport agreement, customers will benefit from increased supply security, competitive pricing and high quality Puma jet fuel. T
"This is an important milestone for our business in Africa as we aim to expand at key locations with high growth potential such as Johannesburg. We are pleased to be starting 2017 with this entry and look forward to serving new commercial airlines,” he said.
"On the African Continent Puma Energy is now present in 19 countries from Senegal to South Africa and continually looks to expand its footprint from West to East."
