South Africa wasted R19 billion a year buying expensive petrol and diesel

• South Africa paid R19 billion a year in avoidable import costs for refined petroleum products between 2021 and 2024.
• The country's refining capacity has halved over the past decade, leading to a reliance on expensive imported refined products.
• South Africa's reliance on imported refined products has widened the country's trade deficit and made it highly vulnerable to external shocks.