Will South Africa survive the looming gas cliff?

South Africa is rapidly approaching a critical energy juncture with an impending natural gas shortage.

- Welcome Mandla Lishivha

This “gas cliff” is triggered by the imminent end of gas supply from Mozambique’s Pande and Temane gas fields. These fields are linked to South Africa through an 865-kilometre pipeline that has long been a key component of the region's energy network, connecting with Sasol’s gas infrastructure and supporting major industrial operations in South Africa. From June 2026, this pipeline will cease to supply gas, creating a substantial energy gap and highlighting the country’s urgent need to diversify or increase domestic gas production.

This urgent energy challenge was the central focus of the Natural Gas Symposium 2025, held on 7 May and convened by the African Energy Leadership Centre (AELC), based at Wits Business School (WBS) with support from the Industrial Gas Users Association of Southern Africa (IGUA-SA). The symposium brought together key players across the energy value chain to discuss the future of South Africa's gas sector and deliberate on actionable strategies. The event opened with a welcome by Professor Maurice Radebe, Head and Director of WBS, followed by opening remarks from Priscillah Mabelene, former energy executive and Chairperson of the WBS Advisory Board. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity and Energy, who underscored the government's recognition of the gas supply crisis and the need for swift, coordinated action.

"While natural gas is a fossil fuel, it has a lower carbon footprint compared to other energy sources such as coal and oil-derived products, and as such, we believe it can serve as an effective transition fuel towards a zero-carbon economy that we are aspiring to. Natural gas alongside renewable energy resources can assist in our just energy transition," said Professor David Phaho, Director of the AELC.