Notice No. 356

23 April 2021

GG 44469

Department of Economic Development

On 22 December 2015, the South African Petroleum Industry Association (“SAPIA”) and its members applied to the Competition Commission of South Africa (“Commission”) in terms of section 10(1)(b) of the Competition Act 89 of 1998, as amended (“the Act”) to be exempted from certain provisions of section 4 of the Act (“2015 Exemption”). The exemption was sought for a period of 5 (five) years from 1 January 2016 ending on 31 December 2030.1

Notice is hereby given in terms of section 10(7) of the Act that the Commission has extended the 2015 Exemption for a period of 3 (three) months, from 1 April 2021 up to and including 30 June 2021 and on the same terms and conditions as published in Government Gazette No.34651 of 7 October 2011.

The exemption granted by the Commission covers a wide range of agreements and practices which, according to SAPIA, are required to ensure the continuity and stability of liquid fuels supply to various sectors and geographic locations of the South African economy. In particular, the exemption covers agreements and practices in the petroleum and refinery industry which are considered by the Commission to be in contravention of sections 4(1)(a) and (b) of the Act. SAPIA based its application on the premise that the aforesaid agreements and practices are required to obtain the objective set out under section 10(3)(b)(iv) of the Act.

The Commission has previously, in response to the above mentioned application, granted SAPIA a conditional exemption in terms of section 10(2)(a) of the Act for a period of 6 (six) months starting from 01 January 2016 and ending on 30 June 2016. Following the expiry of the short term conditional exemption, the Commission extended such exemption several times with the last one ending on 31 March 2021.

This is after the Minister of Economic Development designated the petroleum and refinery industry for a period of 6 (six) months starting from 01 January 2016 ending on 30 June 2016, which was extended to 31 December 2016, 31 December 2017; 31 March 2018; 30 September 2018; 31 March 2019, 30 June 2019, 31 December 2019,  31 December 2020 and further to 31 March 2021.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition has subsequently granted the petroleum industry a 3 (three) month extension in respect of its designation status ending 31 June 2020.

SAPIA or any other person with substantial financial interest affected by this decision may appeal it to the Competition Tribunal in the prescribed manner in terms of section 10(8) of the Act.

Further queries should be directed to either Mr. Marlon Dasarath at [email protected] or Mr. Ruan Mare at [email protected]

In correspondence, kindly refer to the following case number: 2015Dec0741

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1 See Commission Case Number 2015Dec0741