Why South African fuel quality is being increased
While regulated by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), the current fuel specifications face two main issues: high pollutant content compared to global norms and illegal adulteration. Here's what's going to change.
High Pollutant Content (Sulfur, Aromatics, Benzene)
The primary quality concern is the high concentration of specific components, particularly sulfur, which prevents the effective use of modern vehicle emission control technology.
| Component | Current Petrol Limit (Approximate) | Current Diesel Limit (Approximate) | Problematic Effects |
| Sulfur | 10 parts per million (ppm) | 50 ppm (Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel) | Damages catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters (DPFs), leading to higher tailpipe emissions (like Particulate Matter or soot) and reduced engine life. |
| Benzene | Higher limits than Euro 5 | N/A | A known carcinogen, contributing to poor urban air quality. |
| Aromatics | Higher limits than Euro 5 | N/A | Contribute to particulate matter (soot) and smog formation. |
This lower quality means South Africa is limited in adopting the latest, most fuel-efficient, and lowest-emission vehicle technology, hindering both air quality and the local motor manufacturing industry's export capabilities.
Illegal fuel adulteration
A major challenge, especially for diesel, is the illegal practice of adulteration—or "spiking"—where cheaper, untaxed products are mixed with legitimate fuel.
The Problem: Unscrupulous dealers illegally mix illuminating paraffin or kerosene with diesel to increase volume and profit margins, as paraffin is taxed at a much lower rate or is zero-rated.
The Impact: Adulterated diesel has lower lubricity and viscosity, leading to significant and costly damage to modern diesel engines, particularly the high-pressure fuel pumps and precision injectors. It also results in massive tax revenue losses for the government (estimated at billions of Rands annually).
Scale: Recent government testing found that a substantial number of service stations were selling diesel containing paraffin.
Initiatives to improve fuel quality
South Africa is moving toward a major national upgrade through the Clean Fuels 2 (CF2) policy and tighter law enforcement to combat adulteration.10
Clean Fuels 2 (CF2) Standards
CF2 is the government's comprehensive strategy to modernise fuel specifications to align with global standards, specifically Euro 5 specifications for key parameters.
| Parameter | Current Standard | CF2 Target Standard (from July 1, 2027) |
| Sulfur Content (Petrol & Diesel) | Up to 50 ppm (for diesel) | 10 ppm |
| Benzene (Petrol) | Higher limits | 1% |
| Aromatics (Petrol) | Higher limits | 35% |
Implementation date: The new CF2 specifications are officially set to roll out on July 1, 2027. This timeline has been delayed multiple times due to the massive cost and complexity of upgrading South Africa's ageing domestic refineries.
Goal: To enable the full function of modern, low-emission vehicle technologies like DPFs, significantly improving air quality, public health, and allowing the South African automotive sector to fully align with international vehicle standards.
Refinery Upgrades: Oil companies are investing billions of Rands to modify their refineries to produce these ultra-low sulfur fuels. For instance, Astron Energy has committed to a multi-billion Rand upgrade.
Regulatory & enforcement measures
To combat illegal adulteration, the government and industry are taking action:
Increased inspections: The DMRE has increased its random fuel quality testing and sampling at service stations across the country.
Stricter penalties: The Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources has advocated for stronger measures, including the closure of petrol and diesel stations found to be selling contaminated fuel, rather than just issuing fines.
Legislative review: The draft Petroleum Products Bill aims to streamline the regulatory framework, ensure energy security, and introduce new licensing and compliance provisions with a strong focus on environmental sustainability.
Fuel marking: Authorities use invisible tracers added to illuminating paraffin to help detect when it has been illegally mixed with diesel, assisting in the enforcement of tax and quality regulations.
