Energy Licence In South Africa

The Department of Energy’s Hydrocarbons and Energy Planning Branch is responsible for coal, gas, liquid fuels, energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy planning, including the energy database.

The liquid fuels industry was licensed in 2005 for the first time. The objectives of the licensing framework as detailed in the Petroleum Products Amendment Act 2003, Act 58 of 2003, include:

Promoting an efficient manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing petroleum industry;
Facilitating an environment conducive to efficient and commercially justifiable investment;
Promoting the advancement of historically disadvantaged individuals; and
Creating employment opportunities and small businesses in the petroleum sector.

If you want to sell petroleum products to consumers for end use, you must apply for a wholesale licence from the Department of Energy.

The licence allows you to buy petroleum products in bulk (1 500 litres or more, per transaction of petroleum products) from a licensed manufacturer, and to sell it to end users.

The licence is valid for as long as your business operates.

What you should do

  1. Complete the form Application for wholesale licence, DE 28.
  2. Send the application form to the Department of Energy regional office.
  3. The Department will send you a letter stipulating that you must publish a notice of application in four newspapers.
  4. You must provide proof of the publication of the notice of application to the Department.
  5. Once you have a licence, you must submit information on your business annually using the Wholesale licence annual information (Submission Form), DE 25.

How long does it take

You should receive a response within 90 days from the date when the Department received proof of publication of the notice of application.

How much does it cost

  • R1 000
  • R500 annual licence fee.

Forms to complete

Who to contact

Petroleum licensing regional contacts