South Africa Sees Natural Gas as `Cornerstone' to Baseload Power
- Government plans to curb dependence on coal for electricity
- Country needs infrastructure to import, transport and burn gas
The government is pushing to add gas to South Africa’s energy mix as coal-fired electricity production -- accounting for more than three-quarters of the total -- falls short of demand, causing power cuts nationwide.
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South Africa, the most industrialized nation in Africa, said natural gas will become a key source of electricity in its plan to reduce dependence on coal.
“Gas will be a cornerstone of baseload” power, Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said Tuesday, referring to round-the-clock generation. “Our vision is that gas will play a significant role in delivering timely, reliable and affordable electricity.”