By Ayomide Otitoju
South Africa is accelerating domestic gas exploration and LNG import infrastructure to cushion the expected shortfall in gas supply from Mozambique, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe announced on November 21 at the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum in Johannesburg. The forum was hosted by the African Energy Chamber.
Mantashe said the government is prioritising infrastructure that will integrate new gas deposits into the national supply chain, stressing that South Africa must leverage its own resources. “The biggest solution is us — having access to our own gas deposits,” he stated.
South Africa currently depends on Mozambique for 90 percent of its natural gas, supplied through the 865km ROMPCO pipeline from the Pande and Temane fields. With Sasol set to redirect volumes toward domestic operations from mid-2026, the government is moving quickly to guarantee supply security and strengthen energy resilience.
Key projects being fast-tracked include the Matola Floating Storage and Regasification Unit in Mozambique, expected to come online by mid-2026, and South Africa’s Richards Bay LNG terminal, slated for commissioning in 2027. Plans are also advancing for new pipelines to link future offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin to the national grid.
Mantashe further underscored the need for regulatory reforms to unlock offshore exploration and lift moratoria in the Karoo and Orange Basins. He highlighted the Orange Basin’s potential—home to major finds such as Brulpadda and Luiperd—to reduce imports, stimulate jobs, and attract billions of dollars in investment across the petrochemicals and energy sectors.
“We have no legal restriction on oil and gas exploration and exploitation in South Africa,” he said. “If we make a breakthrough on oil and gas, our GDP will grow exponentially.”
The government’s moves come as global LNG markets remain volatile and domestic demand for gas is projected to rise.
