A new gas field south of Cape Town, Ibhubesi, could potentially be used as a source of natural gas to fuel the South African government’s plan for gas-fired power plants. The Department of Energy intends to introduce 2 600 MW of gas-fired generation to back up solar power under South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity, 2010-2030.Under the plan, the South African government foresees securing a minimum 711 MW from combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT), between 2019 and 2021 as back up for solar-power plants to improve security of supply.
The plan looks to increase South Africa’s gas-fired generation mix: expanding gas-fired power generation in the country from 2 to 11% by 2030.The Ibhubesti gas project is awaiting approval by the Petroleum Agency of South Africa and the Department of Mineral Resources. A decision is expected by 2015. The production project could produce 28.3-billion cubic feet of gas each year for the first six to eight years.
