Gas
Civil society opposes South Africa gas procurement plan
South African civil society groups have criticised government plans to procure 5,000MW of gas power under the new Integrated Resource Plan.
Key points
- Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa announced plans for 5,000MW of gas-to-power and 4,600MW of battery storage.
- The initial procurement round excludes new wind and solar energy capacity.
- Campaigners warn that imported liquefied natural gas exposes consumers to international price volatility.
What happened
According to the Mail & Guardian, a coalition of civil society organisations has raised objections to the South African government's strategy to acquire 5,000 megawatts of gas-fired electricity. Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa announced the allocation on 7 October alongside 4,600MW of battery storage, forming the initial section 34 determination of the Integrated Resource Plan 2025.
Minister Ramokgopa stated that the capacity aims to supply dispatchable energy, storage, and system flexibility. However, the first procurement phase omits wind and solar technologies, which the ministry intends to address in a subsequent determination alongside hybrid and pumped storage projects.
Why it matters
Several advocacy groups, including Fossil Free South Africa and 350.org, issued a joint statement challenging the decision. They argued that relying on imported liquefied natural gas could lock the nation into expensive fossil fuel assets and expose electricity users to fluctuating foreign exchange rates and global shipping costs.
Jo-Anne Smetherham of Fossil Free South Africa noted that large-scale gas initiatives typically exceed the costs of renewable alternatives paired with storage. Furthermore, campaigners highlighted concerns over methane emissions associated with gas infrastructure, disputing its classification as a clean transition fuel.
What comes next
The Department of Electricity and Energy plans to evaluate fuel availability, delivered prices, infrastructure requirements, and commissioning timelines for the proposed gas procurement. Meanwhile, civil society groups are urging authorities to redirect focus towards expanding wind, solar, transmission networks, and local manufacturing capabilities.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
0.0% of electricity in South Africa came from gas in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
