South Africa is fast-tracking domestic gas development and LNG import projects to reduce reliance on foreign supplies, particularly from Mozambique, Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said during the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Minister Mantashe highlighted the need for the country to leverage its own gas resources, saying, “The biggest solution is us. Having access to our own gas deposits is key.” Currently, South Africa imports roughly 90% of its natural gas through the 865-kilometre ROMPCO pipeline from Mozambique’s Pande and Temane fields. With domestic energy company Sasol planning to prioritize its internal gas volumes from mid-2026, the government is accelerating both infrastructure development and exploration efforts.

To fill the anticipated supply gap, the government is fast-tracking the Matola Floating Storage and Regasification Unit in Mozambique, expected to start operations by mid-2026, and the Richards Bay LNG terminal in South Africa, slated for 2027. Additionally, plans are underway to build new pipelines linking offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin to the national grid.

Minister Mantashe also called for regulatory reforms to unlock offshore exploration and lift moratoria in the Karoo and Orange Basins. The Orange Basin, home to major finds including Brulpadda and Luiperd, holds the potential to reduce imports, boost the economy, and create thousands of jobs. “Successful development could attract billions in investment across petrochemicals and energy,” he noted.

The Minister stressed the urgency of domestic oil and gas exploration, adding, “We have no legal restriction on oil and gas exploration in South Africa. A breakthrough in this sector could drive exponential GDP growth and ensure our people enjoy reliable energy.”