Mr Colin McClelland
Director
South African Petroleum Industry Association PO Box 7082 Roggebaai, 8012
Fax: 021 419-8058

Dear Sir

Diesel Shortage Affecting Farming Operations

I have been approached by organised agriculture in the Western Cape to assist in urging SAPIA and your associated refining and marketing companies to urgently make special arrangements for certain farming areas in the Western Cape affected by the diesel shortage.

Some farming areas are currently finishing with fruit harvesting and producers are transporting various fruits to markets and fruit processing plants. They are however now severely hampered by the diesel shortage which could have the undesired consequence of huge amounts of fruit being stockpiled and not reaching the markets or plants for processing and or cooling. This might have catastrophic results for farmers and the broader farming communities in the rural areas, already burdened by drought conditions, thus affecting the local economies.

It is my understanding that you are currently doing everything possible to alleviate the fuel shortage affecting various industries, but I have been requested to make a special appeal to you to do everything possible to assist in making diesel available to farmers especially in the Piketberg and Malmesbury areas where there is almost no diesel available.

Your understanding in this matter is appreciated.

Kind regards

Cobus Dowry
Minister of Agriculture
Western Cape

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