Can Brulpadda find deliver on high hopes?
Total has made what could be a major discovery in South Africa, but there is a long way to go before the commercial prospects become clear
Total's deepwater Brulpadda find offshore South Africa is being touted as the long-awaited energy discovery that could help transform the country's economy and hasten the demise of coal as a power feedstock. But, while it promises to bring in valuable revenues and much-needed gas supply, the wider impact may be less far-reaching than some are predicting. In February, Total said it had opened up a "a new world-class gas and oil play" with a gas condensate discovery on its Brulpadda prospect on Block 11B/12B, located some 175km (109 miles) off Mossel Bay on the southern coast. The discovery could hold up to 1bn bl oe of gas and condensate light oil, according to Patrick Pouyanné, Total's chief
Also in this section
5 March 2026
Gas is a central pillar of Colombia’s energy system, but declining production poses a significant challenge, and LNG will be increasingly needed as a stopgap. A recent major offshore gas discovery offers hope, but policy improvements are also required, Camilo Morales, secretary general of Naturgas, the Colombian gas association, tells Petroleum Economist
4 March 2026
The continent’s inventories were already depleted before conflict erupted in the Middle East, causing prices to spike ahead of the crucial summer refilling season
4 March 2026
The US president has repeatedly promised to lower gasoline prices, but this ambition conflicts with his parallel aim to increase drilling and could be upended by his war against Iran
4 March 2026
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed following US-Israel strikes and Iran’s retaliatory escalation, Fujairah has become the region’s critical pressure release valve—and is now under serious threat
