Auch das noch, IMO die Fussball WM findet in RSA nicht statt bei der Entwicklung in RSA.
Gas crisis in SA
2006-07-26
SA is facing a gas crisis
Cape Town - A gas crisis was looming after three of the biggest suppliers of gas admitted that essential maintenance work and an increased demand had led to a "national shortage".
The problem was revealed shortly after maintenance work at Koeberg's Unit 2 had been finalised. As part of Eskom's power saving measures, people were encouraged to buy gas heaters and stoves.
The gas shortage might be resolved within a few weeks, said Chris Fieldgate, spokesperson for Afrox, on Tuesday.
According to Eric Mouton, owner of a filling station at Langebaan, Totalgaz had informed them by letter on Monday about "a national shortage that was influencing the whole LPG (liquid petroleum gas) industry".
Totalgaz wrote that its refinery would be closed at unscheduled times as a result of technical problems experienced by the company.
"They (Totalgaz) gave us permission to buy gas from any other supplier (despite the agreement between supplier and client). There are about 30 restaurants in the area who make use of gas and they will now run dry."
Cold weather
Mouton said they haven't had gas in supply for the past two weeks and were battling to get hold of any.
"Smaller towns, like Moorreesburg and Velddrif, where less gas is used, still had a bit of old stock. But all the nearest big towns are dry."
"Many people switched to LPG during the power crisis, but now it is a huge problem," said Mouton.
According to a statement by Afrox four factors led to the emergency experienced in several places in the country since May:
exceptional cold weather and an early winter;
the closing down of the Engen refinery in KwaZulu-Natal for annual maintenance;
the Sapref refinery (in Durban) was producing less than the expected volume; and
the electricity crisis had increased the demand for gas equipment.
"The cold weather created an exceptional demand for LPG, which is not decreasing. This is hampering all efforts to normalise the supply situation," said Afrox.
A three-day strike last week at Sasol over wages also added to the problem.
According to Fieldgate there had been a definite increase in the use of gas since last year.
Backlog in LPG products
Orders from the industry increased since last year. This increase was seen especially in the consumer market, which mainly use 9kg cylinders for heating, cooking and lighting.
He said there was a backlog in the supply of LPG products. This backlog was difficult to make up. "Afrox was selling every available kilogram of the product, but there were just not enough rail and road tankers to transfer it from the refineries at the coast to the inland sites," read the statement.
The Chevron refinery in Milnerton announced on Tuesday that it was limiting the supply of gas in order to build up stock for essential repairs, which would be done soon. Its clients were also informed about the rationing of the volumes of gas to be sold, said Chris Viljoen from this refinery.
According to a statement a unit that manufactured hydrogen and high-octane petrol components and which was essential for the purification process, would be switched off for three weeks from August 1.
"Although the repairs do not influence the whole refinery, it will be operating below the normal production levels. Chevron has contingency plans in place to prevent that it influence the fuel supply."
News24/Die Burger
der alte war 100 millionen Unzen.
