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Cost of South Africa's first LNG import terminal pegged at $372 mln-plus

South Africa's very first LNG import terminal at Richards Bay will cost over 7 billion rand ($ 372 million) and aims to import 2 million tonnes per year, double the initial quantity slated, a senior official at logistics company Transnet informed .

The federal government in January granted a long-lasting concession for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project to a consortium led by Dutch terminal operator Vopak, as it eyes a minimum of 6,000 MW of brand-new gas-to-power projects to reduce record electricity failures.

The LNG terminal, situated along South Africa's east coast, will at first import 2 million heaps per annum (mtpa) of LNG by 2027 before ramping up to 5 mtpa, stated Linda Myeza, oil and gas sector expert at Transnet National Ports Authority ( TNPA).

It is north of 7 billion rand overall, the entire overall task and TNPA will be co-investing, said Myeza.

Vopak decreased to comment.

The 2027 timeline meant the job, the first of three prepared coastal gas import centers, would not come onstream in time to assist avoid a potentially debilitating gas scarcity in 2026, market officials stated.

Petrochemical firm Sasol sent notices in 2015 cautioning its methane-rich gas supply would end from June 2026 as its gas fields in Mozambique deplete.

Sasol transfers almost all South Africa's gas needs of 190 petajoules annually from neighbouring Mozambique to its Secunda plant by means of the Rompco pipeline. Synthetic gas then leaves Secunda by means of Lilly pipeline for consumers in the eastern coastal region of KwaZulu Natal.

Is it insufficient? No. Is it too late? Yes, Jaco Human, president at the Industrial Gas Users Association of Southern Africa (IGUA-SA), stated of the LNG import plans.

SUPPLY WORRIES

The CEO of Ardagh Glass Packaging Africa, which has turned to trucked LNG to assist fuel its plants, said a gas supply crunch, if it takes place, would speed up a nationwide crisis.

Unlike the reduction of power throughout load shedding, there will be zero supply of this fuel source and operations will likely close, Chief Executive Paul Curnow stated, describing power outages locally referred to as load shedding.

The TNPA stated Richards Bay LNG project will be fast tracked to fulfill its 2027 import target.

New LNG import hubs were likewise planned at Ngqura and Saldanha Bay deep-water ports, Myeza said, while 4 other ports are being considered to host small and medium-scale LNG facilities to broaden gas uptake.

IGUA-SA stated the more advanced TotalEnergies-backed Matola LNG job in Mozambique was the very best option to secure supply by 2026.

The fittest horse is the LNG Matola terminal. Richards Bay will come at some time, however it is not likely to be this decade, Human being said.

(source: Reuters)