Discovery of gas off South African coast could mean more jobs – Shell

Stephen Grootes speaks to Aluwani Museisi, Country Chair for Shell Downstream South Africa.

Listen below:

One of the biggest debates shaping South Africa’s energy future is the use of seismic surveys to explore for oil and gas.

Despite objections from coastal communities and civil society, the government, earlier this year, gave the green light to oil giant Shell to explore the Northern Cape. 

Shell says it wants to be at the forefront of the country's energy transition and argues that gas is the way forward.

It argues that potential discoveries could boost economic growth and energy security.

But critics, led by environmental groups, say it risks long-term ecological damage and threatens marine life.

Museisi says there's a lot of misunderstanding around what upstream exploration is.

ALSO READ: Shell’s oil and gas exploration gets government go-ahead despite coastal community outcry

"It's a way of trying to map out the sub-surface of the sea, to understand if there could be oil or gas that could be viable or explored."

- Aluwani Museisi, Country Chair - Shell Downstream South Africa

But is the reward worth the potential risk?

"The big upside would be, if we were to find gas, that could essentially change our energy mix in the country... gas has way less emissions than coal."

- Aluwani Museisi, Country Chair - Shell Downstream South Africa

"It could really pivot the country into using more gas for the future."

- Aluwani Museisi, Country Chair - Shell Downstream South Africa

Museisi says the impact of that on the economy could be significant.

"... we would be talking about the start of a new sector."

- Aluwani Museisi, Country Chair - Shell Downstream South Africa

"With that new sector, it could mean more jobs, more revenue, more tax revenue and really change the shape of the South African economy."

- Aluwani Museisi, Country Chair - Shell Downstream South Africa

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation from The Money Show.