A little less than two years after the start of the war in Ukraine, South Africa continues to strengthen its ties with Russia, particularly on the economic level. The ANC government announced on Monday December 11 that it had given the green light to the public company PetroSA in its wish to join forces with Gazprombank, the bank of the Russian gas giant. The company wants to reopen one of its gas processing plants, despite American sanctions.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargelès
The partnership should allow PetroSA to restart its Mossel Bay plant in the south of the country, which transformed natural gas into liquid fuel at a rate of 45,000 barrels per day. An important factory in the strategy of the South African public company and decisive in negotiations with the French company Total. The company would like to exploit offshore gas in the region, but it has no longer been in service since 2020 due to a decline in resources.
According to South African minister attached to the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, this decision is part of a logical of rapprochement of the Brics countries, and the American sanctions hitting Gazprombank should not have any repercussions on the project. The final decision should be announced next April.
Furthermore, the Russian companies Gazprom and Rosatom recently said they were ready to help theSouth Africa overcome its energy crisis. And this, while the country’s Minister of Energy is due to give details on possible nuclear projects on Tuesday December 12.
As for South African Deputy Foreign Minister Alvin Botes, he is currently traveling in Russia, to try to strengthen economic ties with Moscow. The number of the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also move to Belarus this week, for a working visit.
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