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Gwede Mantashe speaking at the 11th edition of the Africa Gas Forum in Cape Town.
Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe says the desire for resources is at the heart of most conflicts around the world.
He was speaking at the 11th edition of the Africa Gas Forum in Cape Town.
The conference serves as a platform for industry leaders to discuss and contribute to Africa’s growing energy sector.
Mantashe says the gathering comes at a time of great global tension amid the war raging in the Middle East.
“You can take any conflict in the world. Take the Russia-Ukraine, at the heart of it is resources. You can take Iraq, Iran, the US, and Israel; at the heart of it are resources. That is what we are talking about. We can disagree ideologically, we don’t kill each other, but while there are resources, we begin to kill one another. Because the essence is not the ideology, it’s the resources.”
We gather at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, driven by the global scramble for greater access to & control of natural resources, including oil & gas. History reminds us that resource-endowed nations often bear the brunt of such tensions. Africa is no exception. pic.twitter.com/RpM8EC5ya6
— Gwede Mantashe (@GwedeMantashe1) March 5, 2026
