This archive report was first published on 31 October 2021.
On October 31, 2021, a devastating fire broke out on a major fuel pipeline in South Africa, claiming the lives of three people.
The blaze was caused by a botched fuel theft attempt outside Durban in the early hours of the morning, according to reports.
Transnet Pipelines, the company responsible for the pipeline, immediately shut down the pipeline and activated its emergency response plan, stating that investigations were ongoing.
"The current focus is to extinguish the fire and minimise the impact on the community and the environment," a Transnet Pipelines spokesperson said, noting the tragic loss of life.
Transnet Pipelines is a division of Transnet and a custodian of a 3,800-kilometre petroleum and gas pipeline network connecting Durban to South Africa's most populous Gauteng province, home to its economic hub Johannesburg.
With fuel thefts at its pipelines and surrounding infrastructure soaring over the past two years, Transnet has been working with law enforcement agencies to stop this criminal activity and keep the pipelines and surrounding communities safe.
