South Africa's Oil and Gas Industry Revives Amid Global Energy Pressures

The EnerGeo Alliance industry group is advocating 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 meant that exploration and seismic surveys could not be taken off the table in discussions about South Africa’s energy future.

Compton emphasized that the industry had moved on from recent court cases, which reaffirmed the importance of consultation in the process, but did not stop oil and gas development or exploration.

The population of South Africa is between 59-60 million people, with continued growth and urbanization placing a greater emphasis on centralised power, according to Compton. He said that natural gas sits within this nucleus, facilitating centralised power.