EnerGeo Alliance Backs Oil and Gas Hunt in South Africa Amid Rising Demand

The energy industry group EnerGeo Alliance is pushing for oil and gas exploration in South Africa, citing rising demand from a growing population and challenges in global energy supply systems.

Ross Compton, senior director for global policy at the EnerGeo Alliance, said that wars, growth headwinds, and population growth make it impossible to take exploration off the table in discussions about South Africa's energy future. He added that the industry has moved on from recent court cases, which reaffirmed the importance of consultation in the process.

The government needs to enhance certainty by finalising regulations in the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act, Compton said. The war in the Gulf, strategic strikes by Ukraine on Russia, and weather-related risks to refining infrastructure in the US will continue putting pressure on oil and gas supplies globally, he warned.