Natural gas infrastructure company DNG Energy has announced the arrival of South Africa’s first-ever Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipment from Rotterdam in the Netherlands. With DNG Energy commissioning a floating storage unit in Q1 of 2022, the cargo shipment serves as a precursor to this development.
DNG Energy has been developing the $5-billion LNG infrastructure over the past seven years, and this shipment marks the first of many that will directly address South Africa’s energy needs. The shipment comes at a time when the country is aggressively pursuing alternative energy solutions to meet rising demand. In addition to paving the way for the provision of a cleaner, more sustainable energy source, the shipment will be instrumental in driving industrialization, job creation, and economic growth.
Aldworth Mbalati, CEO of DNG Energy stated that “The arrival of the LNG consignment is an inflection point for South Africa’s energy market; marking a key moment in our shift from coal-fired and oil-fired power generation to cleaner alternatives.”
Meanwhile, South Africa is currently laying the foundations for a natural gas economy, phasing out coal-fired power generation in the hopes of replacing it with gas. As the highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter in Africa, the country has placed natural gas at the center of its energy transition strategy.
“In the context of South Africa’s just energy transition, LNG represents an excellent alternative that will help cut GHG emissions, reduce air pollution and help combat global warming. It will play a key role in helping the country meet its carbon emission goals and providing power to a growing population as the world transitions towards a zero-carbon energy future,” Mbalati continued.
