Responsible offshore development starts with science:
As geopolitical pressure exposes the fragility of global energy supply chains, the case for strengthening domestic energy security by developing South Africa’s own offshore energy resources to secure domestic supply has sharpened considerably. South Africa sits on one of the continent’s most promising, underexplored offshore basins. The country’s offshore oil and gas sector recognises the responsibility that comes with that potential.
The debate around offshore oil and gas development is not new. At its core, it is a debate about how development should proceed responsibly. Science and regulation provide a structured framework for assessing and managing offshore activity in a way that balances environmental protection with economic opportunity. It is well documented globally that responsible natural resource development can and does contribute to economic growth, generating jobs, tax revenue and long-term opportunities for coastal and inland communities alike.
We take our responsibility seriously. The offshore energy industry begins with environmental assessments and proceeds where science supports it. That is the foundation on which all activity rests.
Science first
Geoscience maps what lies beneath the ocean floor and identifies where energy resources might exist. Before any geoscience activities can occur, an independent environmental and social impact assessment (Esia) must be completed to evaluate potential effects on wildlife, marine ecosystems and any impact on human activities that depend on the resources.
In practice, this means rigorous scientific work before any activity commences. Available scientific data and historical information on the marine environment are assessed to establish baseline conditions. Marine specialists map the seabed and biodiversity surveys identify species in the area. Fishing patterns and sensitive habitats are flagged.
The baseline data shapes where activity may take place, how it must be conducted, what mitigation measures are required and whether certain activities may or may not proceed. Authorisation is granted only where risks can be effectively mitigated and responsibly managed through robust safeguards.
Exploration cannot proceed without environmental authorisation and approvals come with enforceable conditions, monitoring obligations and rehabilitation requirements. Oversight applies throughout the life cycle of a project, including after operations cease.
Seismic surveying and marine life
Seismic surveys have been conducted in South African waters and across the region for decades and they are a non-invasive data-gathering activity that is essential to characterising what lies beneath the seabed for a wide range of purposes, from oil and gas exploration to foundation planning for offshore wind and seabed mapping. The technique has been used worldwide for more than 50 years and has dramatically increased the success, efficiency and safety of subsequent operations. Only if seismic results indicate potential oil and gas is an area subject to further exploration to confirm its presence.
Seismic surveying uses sound waves to map rock formations beneath the seabed. Some marine animals respond to these sounds with short-term movements or changes in vocalisation. Research shows the effects are temporary and seismic surveys operate alongside productive fisheries in established offshore regions such as the North Sea and offshore Norway.
Decades of research have broadened our understanding of marine mammals and other species, informing how operations implement risk-based mitigation to reduce residual risks to negligible levels. In addition to mammals such as whales and dolphins, studies now assess impacts across the food chain, including commercially important species. Scientific understanding continues to evolve and operational practices are updated as new research emerges. Importantly, research distinguishes between a measurable biological response and biologically meaningful consequences such as reduced survival or reproduction.
From first activity to final output
Every phase of offshore development is governed by approved work programmes and environmental authorisations, with rehabilitation and environmental management requirements applied continuously and maintained throughout the entire process. Robust regulatory oversight is what makes responsible offshore oil and gas development possible.
Offshore development can deliver value for South Africa. Exploration and appraisal can generate early fiscal inflows through licence fees, VAT, customs duties and taxes. During construction, in addition to the above, numerous jobs and contracts with local companies can be unlocked and during operations, significant income taxes and eventual direct access to production through South Africa’s participation in projects.
For municipalities and communities along the value chain, this can mean sustained funding over decades. This is revenue that supports water infrastructure, roads, clinics and schools. Long-term, predictable income streams matter in communities where service delivery budgets are under constant pressure.
At a national level, domestic offshore production has the potential to reduce reliance on energy imports, contribute to price stability and strengthen energy resilience. It migh also allow South Africa to support regional energy systems through its existing industrial and financial capabilities.
Commitment to responsible development
South Africa’s offshore sector stands at a pivotal moment. The scientific framework is established, the regulatory system is being defined and environmental oversight is embedded at every stage.
Responsible development is not separate from environmental stewardship; it depends on it. Environmental protection and economic resilience operate in the same framework. As global energy systems face increasing strain, South Africa’s offshore resources represent a strategic opportunity. Realising it responsibly requires transparency, scientific rigour and continued oversight, standards that are embedded in how the industry operates. No society has developed to be prosperous without responsible, abundant energy.
Writers’ notes
Offshore oil and gas development in South Africa is governed, among others, by the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, as amended in 2022, and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act. These two pieces of legislation ensure exploration cannot move forward without environmental approval. Approvals come with enforceable conditions, monitoring requirements and rehabilitation obligations. The legislation is built on the principle of continuous oversight and rehabilitative interventions. They require significant and ongoing financial commitments and reporting that continue even after operations cease. As the UPRDA Regulations are being finalised, the industry is contributing to a framework that will ensure implementation reflects both environmental best practice and operational reality.
Niall Kramer is the spokesperson for the Offshore Petroleum Association of South Africa and Dr Ross Compton is the EAME consultant for EnerGeo Alliance
Illegal initiation schools, be warned: we will hunt you and close you, with consequences to follow:
The tradition of young men leaving their homes to go to initiation schools has not only been a source of pride for families and loved ones but has also brought misery and the loss of lives to some families across our country.
There is certainly concern as the winter initiation season kicks off, with traditional leaders, communities and government leaders worried about rogue elements ready to take advantage of unsuspecting families.
As the government of Mpumalanga, we will continue to reiterate that there will be zero tolerance for such elements; the full might of the law will be applied because we do not want to see yet another loss of life.
As we acknowledge and respect the intersection of tradition and modernity when it comes to initiations, we should not be alarmed by public scrutiny of how some criminals have sought to exploit a tradition that has been the hallmark of several cultures in SA.
Each parent, adult and leader across several spheres should make it a priority to ensure the safe return of every initiate so that as they venture into the mountains, we do not regard it as their final destination under the care of criminals masquerading as medical practitioners.
The customary practice in South Africa, which is a rite of passage from boyhood to manhood, is often riddled with controversy between those calling for it to be completely scrapped in favour of circumcision at hospitals and staunch traditionalists demanding its continued preservation.
A few weeks ago in Mpumalanga, we ushered in hundreds of young men ready to take this significant step in their lives — a decision that will forever be etched in their memories. While they are there, it is important to point out that initiation schools go further by assisting the young men to learn what it means to undertake the cultural preparation for manhood, guided by their identity as young African men.
In the Nkangala district alone in Mpumalanga, there are more than 921 registered initiation schools, visited regularly by government officials to ensure that everything is followed to the letter of the law and that the safety of the young men is prioritised. While the visits are conducted at registered schools, those that remain illegal will be hunted down and shut, with consequences to follow.
The consequences need to be emphasised because, for years, illegal initiation schools have claimed the lives of young people not only in Mpumalanga but also in other provinces such as Gauteng and the Eastern Cape. This, according to those concerned across our nation, must not only be condemned but stopped, with law enforcement authorities brought in to act. Special courts and dedicated detectives are among the interventions we have decided to implement this year; the message must be clear: illegal initiation schools will not be tolerated.
The Mpumalanga department of human settlements, co-operative governance and traditional affairs has decided to work closely with traditional leaders, Emergency Medical Services doctors, the SA Police Service and the Ingoma Forum, as we aim to ensure that this year is different, that the safety of initiates is paramount and that they all return to their families alive and healthy.
The one issue we need to address nationally is criminality and how the illegal initiation schools operate under the arrogant notion that they will not be caught or that little action will be taken against them. It is such schools that have perpetuated the perception that our children are turned into unruly bullies and are uncontrollable, thus establishing a view that works against our culture and the key traditions we need to preserve with dignity. Ingoma, as a cultural practice, must not be taken for granted but respected at all times.
As the government, we are encouraged to see parents, particularly fathers, getting involved, as this is a step in the right direction, particularly in a country where there is constant criticism about the behaviour of boys and how many lack father figures who can guide them to become better men. It is in this light that initiation schools teach young men to become better men, leaders of tomorrow and importantly, how to treat women in a country battling the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide.
While this might be another uncertain period — a winter of discontent for all involved — we remain positive that, as we continue working closely with our stakeholders, we will manage this period effectively and see fewer fatalities as we welcome back our sons, ready to take their place in a society where much work still needs to be done.
Speedy Mashilo is Mpumalanga’s MEC for Human Settlements and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Stable energy supply key for Africa’s industrial growth:
From the outset, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA) was designed to bring together leaders, experts and partners to advance Africa’s nuclear energy goals.
The strong participation at the summit this year reflects a growing consensus that the future of our economies depends on how quickly we solve the energy challenge.
Rwanda is pleased to have successfully completed the IAEA’s Phase 1 Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review. We intend to have nuclear energy operational by the early 2030s, and this assessment confirms that we are on track.
For Africa, energy is not simply a development issue. It is the foundation of industrial growth, and competitiveness. Modern manufacturing, mineral processing, digital infrastructure, and advanced healthcare all depend on reliable power. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and data-driven industries will also significantly increase energy consumption.
Countries that cannot meet this demand will struggle to compete. This is why Rwanda considers nuclear energy a critical component of Africa’s long-term transformation.
As more countries move in this direction, international reviews and regulatory processes should not become barriers, but instead offer the necessary support. For Rwanda, small modular reactors represent the most practical way forward.
They are better suited to the realities of most African countries, because they can be deployed gradually, and integrated into smaller grids at a lower cost. Renewable energy will remain indispensable, particularly solar and hydro, where Africa has enormous potential.
But our economies cannot function efficiently on intermittent supply alone. At the centre of this endeavour, is the question of investment. Too often, investors hesitate because they perceive many risks in Africa. We must work to strengthen regulation, ensure consistency and accountability in order to build confidence and attract long-term capital.
The international financing environment is also evolving. Nuclear energy is increasingly recognised as part of the clean energy transition and that creates new opportunities.
What Africa cannot afford is fragmentation. If countries work in isolation, progress will be slow and far more costly. Cooperation on regulation, financing, and regional power integration is essential. This is precisely why NEISA matters.
We are moving the conversation beyond ambition to practical coordination, and financing mechanisms that can sustain deployment at scale. Rwanda will continue supporting these efforts, because this is larger than any one country.
By 2050, Africa will have the largest workforce in the world. 7/7 That demographic shift can become one of the greatest economic advantages of this century, if we prepare for it. In this regard, we are delighted that Togo will host the next NEISA, and carry forward this continental momentum.
Paul Kagame is President of Rwanda.This is an edited version of his opening remarks at NEISA 2016 in Kigali on 19 May 2026.
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