Africa Energy sees first output from SA’s largest gas field by 2033

Canada-listed Africa Energy Corp is aiming to start production from SA's largest gas discovery by 2033, its CEO said on Tuesday, as it forges ahead with a project former operator TotalEnergies walked away from.

The company is awaiting regulatory approval for a reworked environmental authorisation to survey Block 11B/12B off the southern coast.

Using domestic gas is a key part of SA's strategy to diversify away from coal-fired power generation, with a flurry of new projects being pursued, including the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal along the east coast.

"Our 11B/12B indigenous gas should be very competitive versus imported LNG," Robert Nicolella said from the Africa Energy offices in Cape Town.

Nicolella said the company was studying ways to market the gas, though its preference is to supply a gas-to-power plant. SA is targeting 6,000 megawatts of new gas power projects.

The CEO said Africa Energy is in talks with former national oil company PetroSA to use some of its infrastructure to land gas from the Brulpadda and Luiperd fields at Mossel Bay.

TotalEnergies first mooted using PetroSA's infrastructure, which includes the FA offshore platform in Block 9, to help accelerate production.

The idea was to connect Block 11B/12B to existing subsea pipelines that run to the FA platform and from there onwards to Mossel Bay.

"It could be a commercial alternative. It's an option, without a doubt," Nicolella said of using PetroSA infrastructure.

Africa Energy's majority-owned local subsidiary Main Street 1549 was left as operator of Block 11B/12B after TotalEnergies and joint venture partners QatarEnergy and Canadian Natural Resources decided to leave the project last year.

Announcing its withdrawal last July, TotalEnergies said it appeared to be "too challenging to economically develop" and monetise the gas discoveries for the domestic market, without elaborating.

Main Street will hold a 75% participating interest in the block and Arostyle Investments the remainder, according to Africa Energy Corp's website.

Reuters