Latest News

Transnet to appeal against $344 mln Sasol award over tariff disagreement

South Africa's logistics utility Transnet said on Thursday it would appeal a court decision to award Sasol and TotalEnergies about 6.2 billion rand ($ 344 million) in damages and interest to settle a. tariff dispute.

Sasol said earlier on Thursday that it won the award in a. High ruling versus Transnet, which it implicated of overcharging. it for transporting petroleum for several years.

The judgment hence has massive ramifications not only for. the public bag however likewise for Transnet's capability to discharge. its commitments, Transnet stated in a statement.

Transnet plans to appeal the judgment, it included.

In 2017, Sasol Oil signed up with TotalEnergies, its joint endeavor. partner in the Natref petroleum refinery, in a claim against. Transnet Pipelines over a tariff dispute.

On 18 June 2024, judgement was handed down by the High. Court in Sasol Oil and TotalEnergies' favour. Damages in the. amount of 3,889,475,802 rand plus interest amounting to. approximately 2.3 billion rand ($ 128 million) were awarded to. Sasol Oil, Sasol stated in a statement.

TotalEnergies was not instantly readily available to comment.

The disagreement has its roots in a 1967 contract between the. then South African federal government and Total, which developed an. inland crude oil refinery at a time when coastal refineries were. struggling to meet inland demand.

To secure the involvement of Overall in the inland refinery. Natref, the government put in location a pipeline tariff structure. that would match the expenses of a seaside processing facility.

Sasol, which was established as a state-owned organization in 1950. and privatised in 1979, owns 63,64% of Natref, with. TotalEnergies holding the remainder.

(source: Reuters)