South Africa: Gov’t Will Fast-Track Gas Projects To Secure Energy Supply – Mantashe

South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, says the government is fast-tracking domestic gas development and LNG import projects to mitigate supply shortfalls from Mozambique.

Mantashe made the remarks while addressing the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum in Johannesburg on Friday, November 21, 2025.

“We will continue to develop infrastructure to integrate new deposits and make gas available to South Africa,” Mantashe said.

“The biggest solution is us having access to our own gas deposits,” he added.

The country currently imports 90% of its natural gas via the 865 km ROMPCO pipeline from Mozambique’s Pande and Temane fields. With South African energy and chemical company Sasol planning to prioritise its internal volumes from mid-2026, the government is accelerating infrastructure development and domestic exploration to secure new supplies and strengthen energy resilience.

To address the gap, the government is fast-tracking the Matola Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) in Mozambique, expected online by mid-2026, and the Richards Bay LNG terminal in South Africa, scheduled for 2027.

Plans are also underway for new pipelines to connect offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin to the national grid.

Mantashe further stressed the need to advance regulatory reforms to unlock offshore exploration and lift moratoria in the Karoo and Orange Basins.

The Orange Basin — site of major discoveries including Brulpadda and Luiperd — has the potential to significantly reduce imports, boost GDP, and create jobs, the minister noted, adding that successful development could unlock billions in investments across the petrochemicals and energy sectors.

“Drill, baby, drill,” Mantashe emphasised. “We have no legal restriction on oil and gas exploration and exploitation in South Africa. If we make a breakthrough on oil and gas, our GDP will grow exponentially. Our people will never breathe fresh air in darkness.”

South Africa’s move signals a decisive push toward energy self-sufficiency at a time when global LNG markets are volatile and domestic gas demand continues to rise.