Transnet, a South African diversified rail, port and pipeline company known as the guardian of the country's pipeline assets, said today that since April of this year 26 fuel theft incidents removing over two million liters of petroleum products had been stolen from Transnet's 3000-km pipelines.

In a public announcement, Transnet said that "the tampering and damage to the pipeline because of theft continues to remain the biggest threat to the security of fuel supply, particularly to the inland areas. It also poses a danger to nearby communities, due to the inherent dangers of tampering with high-pressure petroleum pipelines, which could result in fire incidents, causing serious injuries and/or fatalities to the perpetrators and communities.”

Transnet has called on all stakeholders involved in the petroleum value chain to join efforts in the fight against fuel theft from South Africa’s valuable pipeline infrastructure.  It says it is working with the Hawks, National Crime Intelligence and the police.