'Immediate decision needed' on SA oil refinery

10 February 2010

A major oil new refinery could be built in South Africa but decisions must be made immediately.

This is according to PetroSA, whose vice-president of new ventures Jorn Falbe spoke at the Sandton energy conference yesterday (February 9th).

Project Mthombo has been earmarked for Coega and the refinery would produce 400,000 barrels each day, Business Day reports.

"SA [South Africa] needs to make an immediate short-term decision on the future of our fuel supply," Mr Falbe explained.

Energy research analyst at Frost & Sullivan Ross Bruton advised that there is a demand for oil in the country and that it would be a "good idea" for the facility to go ahead.

The recession may also have provided the ideal opportunity to start such a project, Mr Bruton stated.

PetroSA explains that it was formed in 2002 after three previous businesses merged.

It now produced environmentally-friendly products and has pioneered the clean fuel producing Gas-to-Liquid technology.

Category: Energy