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Addressing the sitting of the Economic Development Select Committee in the presence of oil industry players including NAAMSA and SAPIA today, the Department of Energy’s Tseliso Maqubela, Deputy Director General for Hydrocarbons, informed the committee of the DoE’s heightened concerns at the on-going shortages experienced by all sectors of society including industry, business and domestic consumers in recent weeks. Mr Maqubela said that while the DoE is responsible for all energy policy issues, the industry is wholly responsible for ensuring production in line with national need and contractual obligations to their customers.

Maqubela assured the committee that the department is working towards solutions to alleviate the shortages in partnership with industry. Thus, elements of the DoE LPGas Strategy which is still in development are already unfolding as demonstrated by the regulation of the gas retail price for the domestic market. In the medium term, the department is also considering other interventions which are still to be finalised.

Acknowledging the threat to the country’s strategy of encouraging the public towards a greater uptake of gas usage as a cleaner fuel alternative from the high emissions fossil fuels, the DDG stated that the department has commenced engagements with Transnet with regards the need for the upgrading of current port infrastructure to enable improved access for imports into the country.
Meanwhile, on-going consultations with the oil industry players continue unabated and, the department remains focused on finding solutions to the problems experienced.

Speaking at the same briefing Mr George Tatham, CEO of Kayagas, stated his support for the proposed DoE LPGas Strategy and, added his voice to the call for improvements of infrastructure at ports of entry. Servicing the Western Cape area, Kayagas also shared positive news with the house when they informed the Select Committee of shipments arriving in the province mid-next week.