KNYSNA NEWS - Diesel supplies to Knysna and Plettenberg Bay have been under strain, with some garages like Engen, Shell and Total having stock while the popular SSK Agriland in both towns are under pressure.

Agriland Plett and Knysna were without 50PPM diesel supplies since 20 March, but received much-awaited diesel on Tuesday 24 March.

Werner Kruger, chief operating officer commercial at SSK Agriland, said its customers were informed about the situation in a letter on 20 March.

"It is difficult to give you more detail as the situation is constantly changing due to the supply that is under pressure. We are doing our best to secure fuel supply in order to service our members and customers to the best of our ability, but it takes time and it is difficult to link specific timelines to this as the whole industry is under pressure," said Kruger.

Knysna resident Eugene Vermaak, a former managing director of a transport company whose bulk supplier is Engen, said Engen confirmed that there were no diesel shortages, but that it was supplying its forecourt operations first. Nationally there was no critical situation, according to Engen, the largest forecourt operator along the Garden Route and South Africa.

Kruger said SSK is "in the hands of suppliers" that affect the entire delivery chain.

Big problem

Another fuel executive indicated that the hiccup in Knysna and Plett supplies was caused by an explosion in sales and a degree of panic buying, with some suppliers reportedly holding back in releasing diesel in the face of an expected increase of up to R9/L for diesel.

Knysna entrepreneur Ronaldo Hunter, whose business, Solid Paving and Retaining, runs four trucks, said he experienced shortages in the past week at Total and Shell, and restricted supplies at BP, all in Knysna Main Street. "It is a big problem," said Hunter.

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