Local gas supplies not likely to come on stream in time for South Africa to avoid a ‘gas cliff’

Although gas is widely regarded as a necessary part of South Africa’s future energy mix, Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) head of mitigation Steve Nicholls is not convinced that a reliable source of local gas supply will be brought to bear in time for the approaching “gas cliff”. The country is, therefore, likely to have to import gas from abroad at higher prices, he noted during a webinar on the role of gas in South Africa’s energy transition, hosted by Creamer Media on March 13.