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
| 04 Jun 25 |
South Africa: Eco Atlantic secures Exploration Right and transfer of 75% interest in Block 1 - South Africa's Orange Basin Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas has announced that, further to the Farm-In Agreement announced on 5 June 2024, formal approval has been received from the South Africa Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. Accordingly, Eco has now secured a 75% Working Interest and full Operatorship of Block 1 offshore South Africa - one of the most strategically positioned assets in the highly prospective Orange Basin. |
| 28 May 25 |
South Africa: South African National Petroleum Company officially launched South Africa has taken a historic leap forward in reshaping its energy future with the official launch of the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC). |
| 06 May 25 |
South Africa: Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas provides update on Block 1, Orange Basin, South Africa Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas, an Atlantic Margin-focused oil and gas exploration company, has provided an update on activities in its entry into Block 1 offshore South Africa, located in the proven and highly prospective Orange Basin, following its farm-In agreement with Tosaco Energy. |
| 29 Apr 25 |
Africa Energy announces corporate update Africa Energy, a Canadian oil and gas exploration company focused on South Africa, has announced a corporate update. The Company is planning to move Block 11B/12B, located in the Outeniqua Basin approximately 175 kms off the southern coast of South Africa, to the development phase. |
| 18 Mar 25 |
South Africa: Etana Energy secures 75MW of solar power AIM-listed Chariot, the Africa focused transitional energy group, has announced that Etana Energy, the South African electricity trading platform, has signed a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement for the entire supply from the 75MW (105MWDC installed capacity) Du Plessis Dam PV2 solar project. |
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
