Speakers at the event also stressed the need for strict environmental safeguards and skills development to ensure sustainable industry growth.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Unathi Magida, Executive Head of Communications and Stakeholder Relations at the Petroleum Agency SA, told Channel Africa on Wednesday that this year\u2019s edition, which took place on Monday and Tuesday, marked a turning point. \u201cThe conference is becoming better and bigger every day,\u201d she said. \u201cWe saw increased interest across all stakeholder groups, communities, academia, investors, lawyers and government. Our theme, \u2018oil and gas without borders\u2019, really came alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Magida said regional cooperation emerged as a central outcome. Southern African countries, all of which have oil or gas potential, emphasised the need to build shared infrastructure, coordinate regulatory frameworks and strengthen regional value chains.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
SA\u2019s Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum, Gwede Mantashe, delivered a keynote address reaffirming the government\u2019s position that oil and gas remain critical to the country\u2019s energy security and industrial development. Magida described the message as \u201ca vote of confidence\u201d in an emerging sector poised to support economic recovery.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Asked about environmental concerns, Magida emphasised that SA\u2019s oil and gas sector operates under strict regulations, including the Mining and Petroleum Resources Development Act and the National Environmental Management Act. \u201cEach application must go through a comprehensive commentary process involving the Department of Environment, specialists and affected stakeholders,\u201d she said. \u201cEnvironmental considerations are built into every stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Magida acknowledged that the sector still faces pushback linked to climate\u2011change commitments, but said natural gas is increasingly viewed as a transition fuel capable of supporting renewables and stabilising the electricity grid. She noted growing interest in gas\u2011to\u2011power projects and highlighted the abundance of offshore and onshore gas resources in SA.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On government\u2019s role, she pointed to the newly enacted Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act, which provides a dedicated legislative framework tailored to the industry\u2019s needs, including investment, job creation, skills transfer and environmental safeguards.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Concrete steps following the conference will include expanded skills\u2011development partnerships with universities, stronger inclusion of historically disadvantaged groups, regional benchmarking with Angola and Mozambique, and broader stakeholder education. \u201cThere is a huge knowledge gap. We must educate South Africans on what oil and gas can do for the economy and for communities,\u201d Magida said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
She said the goal is clear: a well\u2011regulated, inclusive and regionally integrated oil and gas sector that supports energy security and long\u2011term industrial development.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n
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