Green Connection Slams South Africa Gas Bill Over Climate, Community Risks

The Green Connection, an eco-justice organization in South Africa, has urged Parliament to withdraw the proposed Gas Bill (B6 2026). The bill aims to modernize the natural gas sector and replace the outdated Gas Act of 2001. However, the organization warns that the legislation could lock the country into long-term fossil fuel infrastructure while increasing climate, financial, and community risks.

The Green Connection has submitted detailed comments on the Bill to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy. The organization criticizes the proposed classification of liquefied natural gas as a clean or transition fuel, citing concerns over methane emissions and the long-term climate impact of fossil fuel infrastructure.

Natural gas consists mainly of methane, a greenhouse gas that traps significantly more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. The Green Connection says the Bill does not include clear requirements to monitor, report, or limit methane leaks across the gas supply chain.