Taelo Mojapelo contributes to South Africa’s energy landscape by driving BP Southern Africa’s (bpSA) growth strategy and championing gender equity and economic empowerment.
Since June 2020, Taelo Mojapelo has led bp Southern Africa (bpSA), one of the region’s key energy players. Her appointment as CEO came just two months after joining the company as Head of Commercial Optimisation and Supply.
With more than 20 years of experience in supply chain and operational roles at companies such as South African Breweries, Kellogg’s, DHL Exel, and Mondelez International, Mojapelo brought extensive commercial and logistics expertise to bpSA. She stepped into leadership during a global disruption marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and volatile crude oil prices.
Under her guidance, bpSA has prioritised operational stability and safety while strengthening its presence in South Africa’s competitive fuel and convenience retail market. Her focus on supply chain optimisation has been central to the company’s broader growth strategy.
bpSA operates a network of over 500 branded service stations nationwide and holds a 50% stake in SAPREF (South African Petroleum Refineries) in Durban—one of the largest refineries on the continent. The company continues to invest in digital transformation and network expansion to meet evolving consumer demands.
As part of its retail growth plan, bpSA aims to open 15 new service stations in 2024 and 11 in 2025. Each site will require capital investments of between ZAR 20 million (approximately $1 million) and ZAR 25 million (around $1.4 million), focusing on high-traffic motorways to enhance customer convenience.
Mojapelo is also driving transformation within the organisation. Women comprise 45% of bpSA’s workforce and executive leadership, reflecting the company’s commitment to an inclusive corporate culture. She has consistently spoken about creating environments where women and underrepresented groups thrive.
Beyond internal initiatives, bpSA contributes to economic empowerment in the broader community. The company recently sold its East London fuel terminal to WASAA, a black women-owned enterprise, and partnered with Makwande Supply and Distribution, a 100% black women-owned transport company.
Mojapelo’s leadership has earned her widespread recognition. In 2023, she was named Standard Bank’s Top Women Business Leader of the Year and featured on Africa.com’s Definitive List of Women CEOs, a prestigious ranking celebrating female executives at the helm of major African corporations.
In addition to her corporate work, Taelo Mojapelo actively mentors emerging leaders and continues to advocate for inclusive, transformative leadership across the energy sector.
