The Federation of South African Business (BLSA) has alerted the government to the looming gas shortage crisis that will hit the country after the suspension of supplies from two fields in neighboring Mozambique, expected in 2026. The director of the Federation, Busisiwe Mavuso, highlighted that this situation represents a crisis for many businesses, collectively employing over 70 000 people and generating over $27 billion (R500 billion) for the country’s economy.
Mavuso criticized the government’s lack of awareness of the seriousness of the situation and called for rapid and coordinated action between business and government to avoid the “gas cliff”. She questioned the effectiveness of the gas master plan released by the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, stressing that it does not address the major challenge of gas availability after 2026.
Furthermore, Mavuso lamented the government’s lack of responsiveness to warnings from private operators, describing this as a growing feature of how government consults stakeholders in public policy making.
The Industrial Gas Users Association of Southern Africa (Igua-SA) also warned of the need for South Africa to quickly find alternatives to natural gas from Mozambique to avoid an energy shortage. Igua-SA stressed that the government must heed warnings about the risk of natural gas shortages by June 2026, and take action now to ensure continued supplies.
