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
| 21 Oct 24 |
South Africa: Scatec reaches financial close and prepares for construction start for battery energy storage project in South Africa Scatec, a leading renewable energy provider, has reached financial close for the Mogobe battery energy storage system ('BESS') facility totaling 103 MW / 412 MWh and is now making final preparations to start construction of the project. |
| 02 Oct 24 |
South Africa: Mainstream Renewable Power reaches financial close on 50 MW solar PV plant to provide new flexible PPAs to customers in South Africa Mainstream Renewable Power, the pureplay global wind and solar company, has reached financial close on its 50 MW Ilikwa solar PV plant. The power from the plant will supply multiple private commercial and industrial customers under flexible, shorter-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in a new-to-market product called Renewable Energy Supply Agreements ('RESAs'). |
| 02 Oct 24 |
South Africa: Petrobras acquires a stake in the Deep Western Orange Basin (DWOB) block from TotalEnergies Petrobras has acquired a stake in the Deep Western Orange Basin (DWOB) block, through a competitive process conducted by TotalEnergies. The DWOB block is located in deep waters in the Orange Basin, where there have recently been significant discoveries by TotalEnergies, Shell and Galp. |
| 09 Sep 24 |
South Africa: Africa Energy announces Block 11B/12B operations update Africa Energy has announced that the JV partners in respect of Block 11B/12B, Offshore South Africa, have obtained an extension to the deadline for the submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. Following the withdrawal of the JV partners, Africa Energy expects to hold 100% interest in Block 11B/12B. |
| 29 Aug 24 |
South Africa: Eco (Atlantic) announces completion of farm down in Block 3B/4B Orange Basin South Africa to TotalEnergies and QatarEnergy Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas has announced completion of a farm down of a 13.75% participating interest in Block 3B/4B offshore the Republic of South Africa and transfer of operatorship of the Block after receipt of the requisite regulatory approvals from the government of South Africa. Eco now holds a 6.25% interest in Block 3B/4B. |
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
