South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has authorized a special year-long exemption to allow the importation of jet fuel, preventing a potential supply shortage at OR Tambo International Airport and other major airports over the busy December travel period.
The exemption, effective from October 21, 2024, to October 20, 2025, comes after concerns were raised by the fuel industry about a looming shortage of jet fuel, or aviation kerosene, that could disrupt operations at OR Tambo and other airports serviced through Durban.
This supply issue was attributed to regulatory delays in SARS’ licensing processes for fuel importation and storage.
SARS noted that the difficulty stemmed not from regulatory delays on their end but from challenges the industry faced in meeting stringent requirements under the Customs and Excise Act, which governs the import and movement of such fuel.
With three coastal refineries recently ceasing operations, companies have increasingly relied on imported fuel, adding pressure to the regulatory and logistical framework.
To address this, SARS stated that the special permission would allow industry stakeholders time to navigate the complex deregistration and reregistration processes for manufacturing warehouses and storage facilities affected by the shift to imported fuel.
“SARS calls on all parties to complete the outstanding compliance work urgently to ensure smooth licensing for kerosene and its derivatives,” SARS stated.
According to News24, SARS emphasized that all involved taxpayers will be individually contacted to ensure compliance aligned with their specific circumstances.
“SARS believes this exemption provides the clarity the industry needs, supporting economic stability and ensuring smooth travel for the public,” the statement concluded.
