Minister of Energy Jeff Radebe says he would like the Jeff Radebe to contribute 25% of the targeted US$100 billion in investment that was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the department’s Budget Vote speech in Parliament on Wednesday, Radebe said this ambitious goal could be reached in the energy sector with several initiatives.

Last month, President Ramaphosa appointed special economic envoys to lobby potential investors to invest in South Africa as part of a push to raise US$100 billion in new investments over the next five years.

Natural gas

Some of the Minister’s suggestions to reach this goal include securing strategic stock through investment in new fuel tanks and in infrastructure required for South Africa to become a major shale gas producer.

The Minister said this can also be done through promoting natural gas by designing and building infrastructure required to transport natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The Minister said globally, gas is the fastest growing fossil fuel and it is expected to catch up with coal over the next 20 years.

Gas is emerging as the main hydrocarbon component of a more sustainable mix to power the world’s economy.

Transitioning to a low carbon economy

With gas becoming increasingly accessible due to technological advancements and enhanced market liquidity, its demand will steadily grow around the world.

“In South Africa, natural gas, whether imported via regional pipelines or liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals at strategic port locations, should be prioritised as it could play an important role in transitioning to a low carbon economy.

“This direction will establish a game changing demand platform for the future exploration and utilisation of South Africa’s latent shale gas resources to the benefit of security of supply for future generations,” the Minister said.

He said while the price of electricity is an important component to the economy, the Independent Power Producer programme will provide the much needed competition in power generation, with a view of providing prices to the economy but most importantly, to indigent households.