South Africa: Gas shortage plunges the country into a dual energy crisis
The country of Nelson Mandela South Africa is currently facing a double energy crisis. Firstly, there are the repeated electricity outages that last for hours and have been occurring for several years. Secondly, there is a gas shortage due to the disruption of supply from Mozambique that happened a few months ago.
This gas shortage is further complicating the energy crisis because natural gas is essential for the operation of various economic sectors, including industry, mining, and catering, while households use it for cooking and heating.
In this context, warnings have multiplied to draw the government’s attention to an issue that could deal a severe blow to the country’s economy, which is already grappling with a long-standing slowdown. According to the Industrial Gas Users Association of Southern Africa (Igua-SA), even though the interruption of gas supply is not expected until 2026, South Africa has only a few months to find alternatives and avoid a shortage of this vital energy source for economic activity.
The association explains that although this date may seem relatively distant, pipelines and other infrastructure will need to be built and put into service in the coming months to maintain the same level of gas flow. This observation is confirmed by the president of Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), Busisiwe Mavuso, who noted that massive investments are needed to develop new gas sources and adequate transportation infrastructure.
However, the government seems indifferent to these warnings predicting a very alarming scenario. As was the case with the electricity crisis, the imminence of such a disruption is not accompanied by any measures to remedy it.
Today, voices are being raised to lament the fact that the South African government offers no real solution to save the many businesses that collectively employ more than 70.000 people and generate more than $27 billion (500 billion rands) per year for the country’s economy.
Faced with the situation, South African authorities are urged to consider emergency solutions to prevent the worsening of this energy crisis, which is beginning to have harmful consequences on the national economy.
