Middle East / Africa
Country profile: South Africa
| Location: | Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa |
| Climate: | mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights |
| Terrain: | vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain |
| Size: | 1219912 sq. km total (Land area: 1219912 sq. km ) |
| Population: | 43,786,115 |
| Languages: | IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2% (2001 census) |
| Government: | republic |
| Capital city: | Pretoria (administrative capital) |
| Legal system: | based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Currency: | rand (ZAR) |
| Licensing: |
Country profile
The South African government is seeking to increase jobs and promote business development throughout the country with the hope of reaching annual 6.0 percent GDP growth in the future. In 2006, South Africa’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate was 4.6 percent. The South African government has committed to ensuring that black-owned companies have access to the energy sector. Under its black economic empowerment (BEE) program, the South African government has set targets of 25 percent BEE ownership of energy companies by 2014.
Large, predominately white-owned corporations have sold assets to achieve this objective, with the first sale occurring in 2000. BEE firms are commonly referred to as “empowerment” firms. The bulk of South Africa’s energy consumption mix is comprised of coal, which the country primarily uses to produce synthetic fuels. South Africa also consumes a substantial amount of oil. Only a small percentage of the energy consumption mix is comprised of natural gas and nuclear.
Energy production and consumption
| Oil | Gas | |
| Production: | 200,000 bbl/day (2006 est.) | 2 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Consumption: | 519,000 bbl/day (2006 est.) | 2 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Exports: | 217,700 bbl/day (2004 est.) | |
| Imports: | 319,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) | |
| Reserves: | 15 million bbl (1 January 2007 est.) | 27 million cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Major fields: |
South Africa - recent news
| 08 Dec 25 |
South Africa: Scatec starts commercial operation at Grootfontein solar power plant in South Africa Scatec, a leading renewable energy provider, has started commercial operation of the 273 MW Grootfontein solar power plant in South Africa, which will generate predictable revenues from a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA). |
| 01 Dec 25 |
South Africa: ACCIONA Energía sells two assets in South Africa to Cennergi ACCIONA Energía has reached an agreement with Cennergi, Exxaro Resources wholly owned subsidiary and one of South Africa’s leading renewable energy producers, for the sale of its stake in two renewable energy assets totaling 232MW of capacity, for an enterprise value (EV) of €255 million. The two projects are Gouda wind farm (138MW) and Sishen photovoltaic plant (94MWp) |
| 24 Nov 25 |
South Africa: Prime Minister Støre visits Norwegian-owned solar power plant in South Africa On 21 November Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visited a Norwegian-owned solar power plant in South Africa. The company that owns the plant has provided renewable energy to 200,000 households, and a number of Norwegian companies are now investing in solar power in South Africa. |
| 11 Oct 25 |
South Africa: Africa Energy announces Block 11B/12B operations update Africa Energy Corp has announced that the Company, through its investment in Main Street 1549 Pty Ltd., which holds an interest in Block 11B/12B, offshore the Republic of South Africa, has obtained an extension to the deadline for the submission of a new Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ('ESIA') to May 4, 2026. |
| 15 Sep 25 |
Merlin Resources attending African Energy Week 2025 Bill Wilks and Helen Bone are looking forward to representing Merlin Energy Resources at African Energy Week on 29th September to 3rd October 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. The event brings together attendees who are invested in the future of the African energy industry including Minsters from across the continent. |
South Africa - more news
Other countries in this region
- Algeria,
- Angola,
- Bahrain,
- Benin,
- Botswana,
- Burundi,
- Cameroon,
- Central Africa Republic,
- Chad,
- Comoros,
- Congo (Brazzaville),
- Congo (Democratic Rep.),
- Cote d'Ivoire,
- Djibouti,
- Egypt,
- Equatorial Guinea,
- Eritrea,
- Ethiopia,
- Gabon,
- Gambia,
- Ghana,
- Guinea (Republic),
- Guinea Bissau,
- Iran,
- Iraq,
- Israel,
- Jordan,
- Kenya,
- Kuwait,
- Lebanon,
- Liberia,
- Libya,
- Madagascar,
- Malawi,
- Mali,
- Mauritania,
- Mauritius,
- Morocco,
- Mozambique,
- Namibia,
- Niger,
- Nigeria,
- Oman,
- Palestine,
- Qatar,
- Rwanda,
- Sao Tome,
- Saudi Arabia,
- Senegal,
- Seychelles,
- Sierra Leone,
- Somalia,
- Somaliland,
- South Sudan,
- Sudan,
- Syria,
- Tanzania,
- Togo,
- Tunisia,
- Uganda,
- United Arab Emirates,
- Western Sahara,
- Yemen,
- Zambia,
- Zanzibar,
- Zimbabwe
