⎪ Fuels Industry Imbizo 2026 ⎪
vehicles may be better suited to urban routes where distances are predictable, and charg- ing is more accessible. Looking at the total cost of ownership, including fuel savings, maintenance and lifecycle costs, gives a more accurate picture than focusing only on the purchase price. “Electrification is not a silver bullet, but it is part of the long-term solution,” she says. “For some fleets, even a partial shift can start to reduce exposure to fuel price risk.”
The knock-on effect across the economy
In a high-cost, high-volatility environment, fleet management is one of the most effective ways to control fuel spend.
Fuel costs continue to affect the broader economy, particularly in sectors that rely heavily on transport and logistics. Diesel remains a critical input for industries such as mining, manufacturing and freight. As costs increase, they move through the value chain, contributing to higher prices overall. For commercial operators, managing fuel efficiently is not just about protecting margins, but about staying competitive. There is also a role for industry and policy in improving how the system functions. In the short term, this is less about building new infrastructure and more about making better use of what already exists. “Improving coordination across storage and distribution, as well as better visibil- ity of available fuel, can significantly reduce
pressure during periods of volatility,” says Tshifularo. “In many cases, the challenge is not supply, but how effectively that supply is man- aged and moved.” Practical solutions, such as repurposing existing infrastructure and ensuring the reliable operation of pipelines and terminals, can help ease pressure without requiring major new investment. Fuel price pressure is unlikely to ease in a meaningful way any time soon. For businesses, the focus needs to shift from reacting to managing. Fleet Management and Leasing provides a practical way to do this by enabling smarter, more efficient operations. “While we cannot control global oil prices, we can control how we respond
to them,” Nikelo concludes. “For businesses, that response starts with understanding their fleet and using that insight to operate more efficiently every day.” WesBank’s offering WesBank, a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, is the leading provider of in- novative vehicle and asset solutions. An international company, WesBank offers retail and corporate solutions including vehicle finance, full maintenance leases, asset-based finance, fleet management leasing, value-added products and per- sonal credit solutions. https://www.wesbank.co.za/
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May-June 2026 • MechChem Africa ¦ 7
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