Friday, September 20, 2024
Eskom and energy and chemical organization, Sasol, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to "collaboratively explore and investigate prospective long term liquified natural gas (LNG) requirements".
That is based on a joint statement by the two companies, following the signing ceremony from the MoU on Friday.
"The collaboration aims to ascertain the possible volumes that South Africa demands to ascertain a practical LNG import market, along with the enabling infrastructure, and will be facilitated by federal government-to-government relations wherever necessary."
"This initiative focuses on using fuel for power generation to deliver critical base load electricity and position gas like a crucial enabler of re-industrialisation, although also making certain ongoing supply to the market by unlocking global LNG resources.
"Furthermore, the collaboration will contribute to enhancing South Africa’s energy mix eskom and enable the country's energy transition and decarbonisation," the joint statement read.
The MoU is expected to "explore sourcing gas within South Africa, the Southern African Development Community region, and other parts of the African continent, in addition to evaluating long-term here LNG contracting".
"This will support the gas requirements for Eskom’s planned coal power station repowering website and conversion to gas in the long term. The parties will also engage other state entities to enable an LNG value chain in South Africa.
"As part of its revised gas strategy, Sasol is working on enabling the future supply of LNG to South Africa by collaborating with companies such as Eskom, existing and future customers, suppliers, and infrastructure developers.
"The research findings from the first phase of the Sasol-Eskom collaboration will guide the necessary role players and investors required to offer the best prospects for South Africa's energy market, while outlining the challenges associated with the long-term commitments required for LNG imports," the statement said.