The government of South Africa has announced its plans to become a major player in the global gas sector. The country is already developing a new gas bill intending to attract more national and foreign investment to the South African gas sector.

South African Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe said that the use and monetisation of natural gas is a priority for the country and the Ministry is “in the process of repositioning South Africa so that it becomes a serious player in the global gas market.”

He said a gas bill will be presented in parliament soon according to the appropriate legislative process. The bill is to attract investments needed for infrastructure for importing LNG and to intensify exploration activities. It is to also diversify the energy mix and to reduce South Africa’s carbon emissions.

To reduce the imports of petroleum products into the country, he said the current and future gas discoveries in South Africa will be used to supply power stations and other petrochemical installations. He said a technical working group has already been set up to establish a commercial business plan to develop liquefied natural gas (LNG) import-export facilities in the various ports of the country. The South African government also plans to double the consumption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) over the next five years.

Although Mozambique has been predicted by many to become the leading market for gas in Africa, South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria have also been intensifying efforts to take advantage of the continuously expanding and growing gas market that not only boasts of profit but will help to reduce carbon emissions and help to promote a safer and greener environment.