Petrol demand set to pick up

Johannesburg - Petrol demand during the 2010 FIFA World Cup is likely to increase by 22 million litres, Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters said.

Writing in the SA Petroleum Industry Association's (Sapia's) annual report released on Thursday, the minister said jet fuel demand would increase by 39 million litres.

Peters said a task team, chaired by director-general of energy Nelisiwe Magubane, had been established to ensure that South Africa had sufficient fuel available to cope with the influx of soccer supporters for the cup.

The team consisted of officials from the department of energy, the Sapia director, representatives from Sapia member companies, representatives from Transnet Freight Rail, Transnet Pipelines and Transnet National Port Authority, the general manager of OR Tambo International Airport and a representative from the Airports Company of SA.

 - Sapa