Africa-Press – South-Africa. Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has published a new “Gas Master Plan” for South Africa for public comment.
The master plan lays out the department’s intentions to make gas a critical component of South Africa’s energy mix and presents various ways to introduce and grow supplies based on different demand scenarios.
This includes new gas builds across the country, as well as conversions for Eskom’s “retiring” power stations.
Mantashe noted in March that the plan would be presented to cabinet – and by the end of that month, the executive had given it the green light.
“The master plan will enable a natural gas economy that is favourable to investors and can provide an alternative source of energy for the country’s electricity sector,” cabinet said at the end of March.
The department has now invited the public, stakeholders and industry experts to submit inputs on the plan before 15 June 2024.
According to Mantashe, the plan was developed together with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, with contributions from private sector players.
The strategy intends to ensure a seamless transition and business continuity while mitigating potential job losses in the energy sector.
“The Gas Master Plan recognises South Africa’s abundance of primary energy sources which, if commercialised, could drive economic growth, social development and thus benefit the country,” the department said.
It looks at the upstream, midstream and downstream gas components of the value chain.
Broadly, the plan:
Outlines the role of natural gas in the context of South Africa’s energy mix
Gives policy direction to industry
Considers gas supply options (locally and internationally)
Facilitates an infrastructure network, including options and contingencies for demand uncertainties and moves to cleaner technologies
Identifies partners in the Southern African Development Community and
Protects natural resources and environmental assets
The department said that the plan is a policy instrument that serves as a roadmap for strategic, political and institutional decisions for the sector and promises that “the country’s natural gas demand is well managed”.
Conversions and new builds
Across the various scenarios, the plan identifies 11 potential ‘gas demand nodes’ across the country, and proposes initiatives like converting Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) into Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGTs), new builds (IPPS), and the conversation of retiring Eskom power stations into gas power stations.
In a low gas demand scenario, only the conversion of Eskom’s Gourikwa and Angerlig OCGTs into CCGTs would be necessary, covering the 2000MW demand in two nodes.
In the medium gas demand scenario, conversions and new builds totalling 10,500MW would be necessary in six nodes; and in the high gas demand scenario, this would be 16,650MW in eight nodes.
Notably, in the medium-demand scenario, the conversion of the Komati Power Station is considered (1000MW). In the high-demand scenario, conversations with Hendrina, Camden and Grootvlei are also added to the mix (5800MW total).The
full plan is embedded below.
Written comments can be addressed to the Director General of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy at 70 Meintjies Street, Sunnyside, 0001 or Private Bag X59, Arcadia, 0007.
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