SOUTH Africa expects TotalEnergies to submit a production plan within weeks to use a prolific offshore gas discovery that will form a key part of increasing investment in the sector.
Petroleum Agency South Africa is “very confident” that the French major will finish talks with state-owned PetroSA and complete the required output plan to retain the license, which would otherwise expire on September 6, CEO Phindile Masangane said in an interview. A TotalEnergies spokeswoman declined to comment.
The most industrialised nation in Africa lacks commercial oil and gas production, leaving it reliant on imports of the fuel. Its search for domestic resources has encountered unprecedented opposition in recent months by communities and activists who have successfully blocked exploration activity by companies including Shell Plc.
“As the Petroleum Agency, we acknowledge that South Africa’s upstream oil and gas industry has become litigious,” Masangane said. Steps are being taken to enhance the guidelines around local consultation, which have been criticized by groups in court, while the regulator looks to increase activity, she said.
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