War in Iran disrupts fuel supplies to South Africa's sub-Antarctic base
Kyiv • UNN
Due to a shortage of polar diesel, the vessel SA Agulhas II has not departed from Cape Town. Only nine days of fuel remain at the Marion Island base.
The South African vessel SA Agulhas II, which was supposed to deliver supplies to the sub-Antarctic Marion Island, has been delayed due to fuel supply disruptions amid the conflict involving Iran. This was reported by Bloomberg, according to UNN.
Details
South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment stated that the icebreaker was unable to depart Cape Town as scheduled in April due to a shortage of specialized diesel fuel.
"The delay is mainly due to a global shortage of fuel products related to ongoing geopolitical events in the Middle East,"
The station requires specialized polar diesel fuel that does not freeze at extremely low temperatures to operate.
Less than 10 days of fuel remains at the base
According to Bloomberg, a shipment of the necessary fuel only reached the refinery in Cape Town in early May. Blending and testing of the fuel are currently underway, after which it is to be delivered to the vessel.
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The department stated that there is currently "no immediate danger" to the team on Marion Island.
At the same time, fuel reserves at the base are down to approximately nine days, while food supplies are estimated to last for about two months.
Bloomberg notes that the situation has become another example of how disruptions in global energy supplies, caused by the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, affect even the most remote areas of the world.