South Africa is expected to face natural gas shortages from next year despite discoveries made between 2019 and 2020. This is according to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA), which provided an update during a panel discussion at the WITS Gas Symposium.
PASA Acting CEO Dr Bongani Sayidini has confirmed that although gas has been found locally, it has not yet been discovered in commercially viable quantities.
“We have not found gas in this country, not in commercial quantities. I have just demonstrated and articulated the fact that gas was found in 2019–2020 through the Brulpadda and Luiperd wells by TotalEnergies and partners,” Sayidini says.
“Those are discoveries. Those are discoveries sitting some 175 kilometres [offshore].”
Currently, South Africa relies heavily on natural gas imports from Mozambique. However, experts warn that the Mozambican gas supply is nearing the end of its production life, which could place local industries at risk of supply shortages.
No immediate timeline was provided for when South Africa’s gas discoveries may be developed for commercial use.
Experts gather to debate energy future at Gas Symposium
