South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to advancing its oil and gas sector, including shale gas, despite international pressure to shift towards a greener economy.

Speaking at African Energy Week 2024: Invest in African Energies, currently underway in Cape Town, Mantashe said South Africa is well on its way to becoming a competitor in the international oil and gas space, particularly as President Cyril Ramaphosa has assented to the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill. The Bill includes provisions to address unconventional gases like shale gas. “While there is pressure to avoid these steps, as a developing economy, we must explore oil and gas to support growth. Lifting the moratorium on shale gas was necessary for our energy future. Gas, as a transitional technology, is part of the green transition,” Mantashe added.

Earlier this year, Mantashe initiated consultations on large-scale seismic and airborne surveys in the Karoo Basin to assess oil and gas potential. These surveys will evaluate geological risks and resource viability to determine whether extraction efforts are justified. “These projects have potential to boost our GDP by 8%,” Mantashe said, pointing to neighbouring Namibia and Mozambique where oil and gas discoveries led to substantial economic growth.

“Development and environmental protection must coexist. We need to mine and drill responsibly while safeguarding the climate and natural resources. Halting development altogether will have long-term consequences,” he pointed out.

Advocating for a balanced energy mix, Mantashe also said he does not foresee South Africa abandoning coal-fired power by 2030. “Not in my lifetime. While we can embrace new technologies, dismantling existing ones isn’t advisable. Coal remains a reliable baseload source in our energy landscape.”