OVERVIEW Petroleum
OVERVIEW Petroleum Agency South Africa Unlocking South Africa’s resources for economic growth. Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA) is the official agency responsible for the promotion and regulation of South Africa’s petroleum resources. The agency regulates and monitors exploration and production activities and is the custodian of the national exploration and production database for petroleum. Its role was statutorily endorsed in June 2004 in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002. In terms of strategy, the agency actively seeks out technically competent and financially sound clients to whom it markets acreage, while ensuring that all prospecting and mining leases are for the long-term economic benefit of South Africa. Mission To promote, facilitate and regulate exploration and sustainable development of oil and gas contributing to energy security in South Africa. Vision A diverse upstream industry contributing to energy security through sustainable growth in exploration and development of oil and gas. Value statement Petroleum Agency SA aspires to be a world-class organisation, committed to: • Professional excellence • Integrity • Direct, open, consultative communication • Transparency • Respect • Teamwork • Active regard for our natural environment • Corporate social responsibility in an empowering, vibrant workplace where diversity is valued. • Exploration activities are encouraged and regulated both offshore and onshore. Onshore Petroleum potential of the Karoo Basins: The Karoo Supergroup occupies half of South Africa’s surface area and current exploration is focussed on shale gas, coalbed methane and biogenic gas. The development of a natural gas resource in the Free State Province is an example of the latter. Coalbed methane resource potential: Permian high-volatile bituminous coal deposits in the northern Karoo-aged basins comprises a potential energy resource for South Africa. In 2019 PASA awarded oil and gas exploration licences to six companies for an area of 30 000km2 in the Free State, Northern Cape and North West. Offshore Major steps have been taken in the creation of a South African gas market with two major discoveries off the coast South African coast near Mossel Bay. Says the CEO of Petroleum Agency SA, Dr Phindile Masangane, “The recent discovery by Total and its JV partners in Block 11B/12B (Brulpadda) is the first giant step in that direction.” Odfjell’s Deepsea Stavanger semi-submersible oil rig relocated from Norway to South Africa in December 2018 to start exploratory drilling at the Brulpadda site. The team returned in August 2020 to drill at another site called Luiperd – and found even more gas reserves. Analysts believe that these two finds could be gamechangers for the South African economy. The exploration drilling is in deep waters similar to where the gigantic Mozambique Rovuma Basin gas discoveries were made in 2010. The drilling campaign has long-term benefits to South Africa which include introducing frontier deep-water exploration drilling, building confidence and potentially shifting petroleum exploration activities to private international oil companies (IOCs), derisking deep-water acreage which is believed to be prospective for large oil and gas resources.
OVERVIEW Petroleum Agency SA: promoting and regulating exploration and production. Petroleum Agency SA evaluates, promotes and regulates oil and gas exploration and production activities in South Africa and archives all relevant geotechnical data. The Agency acts as an advisor to the government and carries out special projects at the request of the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy. South Africa’s energy mix is changing to include more gas through importing liquefied natural gas (LNG), using shale gas if reserves prove commercial, and developing infrastructure for the import of LNG. Petroleum Agency SA plays an important role in developing South Africa’s gas market by attracting qualified and competent companies to explore for gas. Another major focus is increasing the inclusion of historically disadvantaged South African-owned entities in the upstream industry. Currently, natural gas supplies just 3% of South Africa’s primary energy. A significant challenge facing the development of a major gas market is the dominance of coal. Opportunities for gas lie in the realisation of South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). As custodian, Petroleum Agency SA ensures that companies applying for gas rights are vetted to make sure they are financially qualified and technically capable, as well having a good environmental track record. Oil and gas exploration requires enormous capital outlay and can represent a risk to workers, communities and the environment. Applicants are therefore required to prove their capabilities and safety record and must carry insurance for environmental rehabilitation. ■ Contact details Tel: +27 21 938 3500 Email: plu@petroleumagencysa.com Website: www.petroleumagency.com PASA’S NEW CEO HAS A BACKGROUND IN ENERGY POLICY AND STRATEGY Dr Phindile Masangane was appointed as the In 2019, Dr Masangane was Head of Strategy CEO of the South African upstream oil and gas for the CEF Group of Companies where she led the regulatory authority, Petroleum Agency South development of the group’s long-term strategic Africa, in May 2020. Before then, Dr Masangane plan, Vision 2040+ as well as the group’s gas strategy. was an executive at the South African state-owned From 2010 to 2013, Dr Masangane was a partner energy company, CEF (SOC) Ltd, which is the and director at KPMG, responsible for the Energy holding company of PASA. Advisory Division. She successfully led the capital Dr Masangane was responsible for clean, raising of -billion for hydro and coal power renewable and alternative energy projects. plants expansion programmes of the In partnership with private companies, she Zimbabwean power utility, ZESA/ZPC. led the development of energy projects An alumnus of three including the deal structuring, project universities, Dr Masangane has a economic modelling and financing on BSc (mathematics and chemistry) behalf of the CEF Group of Companies. Her from the University of Swaziland, responsibilities also included supporting the a PhD in Chemistry from Imperial national government in developing energy College, London and an MBA policy and regulations for diversifying the from the University of the country’s energy mix. 37 Witwatersrand. ■ NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2021/22
