Puma Energy, the fastest growing independent fuel distribution company in Africa, 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 O.R. Tambo International Airport.
Coinciding with the first anniversary of its launch into the South African market in February 2016, the entry into operation of the Richards Bay facility is another significant infrastructure investment by Puma Energy into South Africa’s fuel sector.
Located at 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.
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.
Situated almost 1,700 metres (5,500 feet) above mean sea level, South Africa’s most important airport, O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, is Africa’s busiest airport with a capacity to handle up to 28 million passengers annually with non-stop flights to all continents. The airport is the hub of South African Airways and in 2016 handled a total of 21 million passengers with 224,191 aircraft movements, generating an estimated economic impact of $3.2 billion.
Puma Energy started operations at the Johannesburg airport on 1 January 2017, strengthening its African network and enhancing supply security to this major international airport. With fuel being transported by road and rail, security of supply has now significantly improved for JetA1 into O.R. Tambo International Airport thanks to the new supply routes from these two state of the art terminals in Maputo and Richards Bay. O.R. Tambo brings the number of airports where Puma Energy operates to 68.
Jonathan Molapo, COO of Puma Energy in Africa commented, “Puma Energy is delighted to launch its new facilities across South Africa. When we entered the South African market at the beginning of 2016, we outlined an aggressive plan to fulfil our growth strategy.
Matola and Richards Bay facilities are evidence of the momentum we have achieved in a very short space of time. These represent flagship operations for Puma Energy’s infrastructure investment to link local demand with international supply. These investments demonstrate our commitment to further developing our presence in South Africa through sustained economic and infrastructural development.”
Seamus Kilgallon, Global Head of Puma Energy’s Aviation division said of the new airport entry, “Through this agreement, customers will benefit from increased supply security, competitive pricing and high quality Puma jet fuel. 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.”
On the African Continent Puma Energy has grown to become one of the largest independent storage and downstream companies in sub-Saharan Africa. It is now present in 19 countries from Senegal to South Africa and continually looks to expand its footprint from West to East.
