South Africa risks gas shortages as Mozambican imports drop, prompting faster domestic development and LNG imports to secure energy.

South Africa faces a looming gas shortfall due to declining Mozambican imports, prompting Minister Gwede Mantashe to push for accelerated domestic gas development. Speaking at the Africa Gas Forum, he emphasized that South Africa’s non-migrating gas reserves can help avoid a "gas cliff" and support industrial growth. The government is pursuing both LNG imports and domestic projects, including Sasol’s methane-rich gas initiative and offshore and onshore exploration, to ensure energy security. Mantashe highlighted Africa’s underutilized gas reserves—7% of global supply with less than 4% of emissions—as key to a just energy transition.