By Kopano Dibakwane
The provincial government in Mpumalanga has welcomed the recent discovery of gas reserves in Secunda, by Australian-listed company, Kinetiko Energy.
According to the provincial government, the gas is viewed as a major boost for the supply of sustainable energy, as South Africa is embracing just energy transition. It was also reported that the gas project, worth above a billion rand, will produce 50MW in the first stage, followed by 500MW in the second stage, through the abstraction of over 2 trillion cubic feet in gas reserves.
Mpumalanga premier,Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, said that the gas project is a major investment to the economy of the province.
” The gas discovery evidence to our assertion that Mpumalanga is the home of energy grid. It positions our province right at the centre of the just energy transition and as a source of reference for the country’s emision reduction targets,” said Mtshweni-Tsipane.
The premier added that the gas discovery fits in with the Mpumalanga economic reconstruction and recovery plan(MERRP), which is reportedly aimed at stimulating the provincial economy, thus furthermore creating job opportunities through investments.
