Kusile coal-fired power station
Can gas solve South Africa’s power crisis?
Domestic production and LNG imports are on the table as the country seeks to restore energy security
South Africa can no longer keep the lights on. Lengthy power cuts, known locally as ‘load shedding’, have become a fact of life as the country’s ageing coal-fired power stations increasingly break down. The situation prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a “state of disaster” in February. “The impact of load shedding is disastrous for our economy,” says Adrian Strydom, CEO of the South African Oil & Gas Alliance, an industry lobby group. The country is importing ZAR3bn ($155mn) in diesel per month, he says, as the beleaguered population resorts to expensive and polluting generators. “Delays in introducing a clear governing framework complicates taking investment decisions w
Also in this section
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation
