Cape Town — Minster of Energy, Gwede Mantashe, highlighted some of the issues South Africa faces with energy reliability, and also eased fears of South African entering a gas crisis.
Speaking at the African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Mantashe said government is aware of the challenges it faces that are currently hindering progress when it comes to reliable energy supply. Some of these challenges include grid capacity, and the decline in energy availability due to aging infrastructure, EWN reported.
Mantashe said government is working tirelessly to address all energy issues and ensure there is sufficient availability, while also resolving the grid capacity problems.
“Our power stations that are there, are not operating optimally. So, the work that is done by Minister Ramokgopa to pay attention to those energy availability factors, to make those power stations work optimally, will reduce or eliminate load shedding.” Mantashe said.
He said government is investing in energy sources to gain access to affordable and relaibale energy, while he also dismissed assumptions that government does not make use of renewables to address the country’s energy challenges.
It is an honour for me to engage with delegates once again at the 16th edition of the Africa Energy Indaba convened under the theme, “African Energy Transitioning from Aspiration to Action – Delivering a Sustainable and Prosperous Future”. #AEI2024 #InvestSA #InvestInSAEnergy pic.twitter.com/xnqaVvl397
— Gwede Mantashe (@GwedeMantashe1) March 5, 2024
Mantashe also eased fears of a looming gas crisis in South Africa as the country faces a a gas shortage as early as June 2026 after Sasol announced it will stop supplying gas from Mozambique, The Citizen reported.
Mantashe said his department have noted the concerns regarding the current and future gas supply in South Africa due to the dispute between Sasol and its customers.
“It is a known fact that natural gas, like other natural resources, is a finite resource and, therefore, Sasol reaching a cliff in its gas block in Mozambique is not an anomaly,” Mantashe said.
He said the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has also completed all the modelling and drafting work for the country’s Gas Master Plan, as well and entering + negotiations with the Mozambican government and drafted a memorandum of understanding (NOU) to be signed put into action within this month.
According to Busi Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership SA, a combination of policy inaction and failing to commit to large-scale alternative infrastructure will leave South Africa with a supply interruption that puts 700 000 jobs at risk in an industry generating R500 billion per year.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
