In a firm declaration of South Africa’s intention to recalibrate its energy trajectory, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to natural gas exploration and infrastructure expansion as essential components of its long-term energy strategy. Speaking at the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum, held in Johannesburg on 21 November, Mantashe outlined plans to expedite domestic gas development and LNG infrastructure in response to an anticipated reduction in gas supply from Mozambique.
South Africa currently relies on imports for over 90 percent of its natural gas needs, predominantly through the ROMPCO pipeline, which extends 865 kilometres from the Pande and Temane fields in Mozambique. However, with South African energy and chemical conglomerate Sasol set to divert internal gas volumes for domestic use by mid 2026, concerns over supply security have intensified. In response, the South African government is pursuing an ambitious infrastructure roadmap designed to increase domestic resilience and lessen dependency on regional imports.
Among the flagship initiatives is the fast-tracking of the Matola Floating Storage and Regasification Unit in Mozambique, which is expected to become operational by mid 2026. Complementing this, the Richards Bay LNG terminal in KwaZulu Natal is projected for completion by 2027. These developments are intended to bolster import flexibility while parallel efforts to stimulate indigenous production continue.
Minister Mantashe underscored the strategic necessity of leveraging South Africa’s untapped reserves to stabilise the national grid and catalyse economic growth. The Orange Basin, located offshore along the country’s west coast and home to the Brulpadda and Luiperd discoveries, remains central to these aspirations. The basin has shown considerable promise, with recent exploratory successes pointing towards substantial reserves that could potentially reduce the national import bill, create thousands of jobs and attract multi billion rand investments in both upstream and downstream sectors.
The minister further articulated the need to initiate regulatory reforms that would remove existing impediments to exploration. Specifically, he referenced the importance of lifting moratoria in both the Karoo and Orange basins, arguing that streamlined governance would enable swifter exploitation of offshore resources. At present, there are no legal restrictions preventing oil and gas exploration or extraction, although procedural and environmental assessments remain part of the broader permitting process.
Minister Mantashe’s stance, though unequivocal, comes amid broader debates within the continent regarding the future of fossil fuels in an era increasingly defined by climate imperatives. While global energy markets continue to experience volatility, many African nations, including Namibia, Senegal and Mozambique, are reassessing how best to utilise their hydrocarbon resources in ways that are both economically prudent and environmentally sustainable. South Africa’s pivot to gas is being positioned not as a detour from renewable energy ambitions but as a transitional measure aimed at stabilising supply while longer term alternatives are integrated.
While critics have cautioned against an overreliance on gas infrastructure in the face of global decarbonisation trends, proponents argue that African states must determine energy pathways aligned with their development priorities. For South Africa, which has experienced intermittent load shedding and aging coal infrastructure, the urgency of diversifying the energy mix is viewed by policymakers as both an economic and social imperative.
Minister Mantashe’s comments reflect a growing Pan African sentiment that energy development should serve the continent’s immediate and sovereign interests, rather than be shaped solely by external expectations. In his words, “The biggest solution is us. Having access to our own gas deposits.” This framing repositions Africa not merely as a supplier to global markets but as an active agent in defining its own energy future.
The country’s renewed focus on domestic production, accompanied by infrastructural upgrades, signals a policy shift that aims to enhance energy security and resilience in a multipolar global energy landscape. Whether this momentum will translate into measurable outcomes will depend on the pace of regulatory reforms, investor confidence and the technical viability of key projects over the next few years.
