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Natural Gas : Building a Cleaner Energy Future

Company News Monday, March 11, 2013: Air Con-Nected Lubricants

South Africa has a great opportunity to secure a sustainable energy future, reducing its dependence on coal by using more environmentally friendly options available in this country, such as natural gas.

A plentiful supply of natural gas – the cleanest of all fossil fuels – may exist in parts of the shale rock formations deep beneath the surface of the South Western Karoo Basin.

The Karoo’s natural gas potential could provide South Africa with a stable, alternative energy source for power generation that is 40% more energy efficient and emits 50-70% less CO2 than coal, but only if we can preserve the unique character of the area as well.

Resources for South Africa; Resources for the World

The global picture is clear – energy powers our modern world. And as the world’s population increases, the demand for energy will continue to increase. Natural gas has an essential and growing role to play in building a cleaner, more affordable and more secure energy future, especially in South Africa.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 85% of South Africa’s electricity is generated from coal. South Africa’s CO2 reduction target is one of the most ambitious amongst developing countries with the commitment made at Copenhagen to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 34% by 202 and 42% by 2025 below business as usual. Mitigation actions in the energy sector are key to achieving these reductions given the sector are key to achieving these reductions given the sector accounts for over 80% of the country’s emissions. Therefore, diversification of the energy mix is required and natural gas could be instrumental both in meeting growing energy demand and contributing to these emissions reductions targets. Natural gas could provide South Africa with a stable, sustainable alternative energy source to coal for power generation that is 40% more energy efficient and emits 50-70% less CO2.

And the economic benefits of natural gas are just as clear: Not only is the construction of a gas-fired power plant less than half the cost of a coal-fired plant and easier to build than any other source of electricity, natural gas could also provide South Africa with a stable, sustainable alternative energy source, supporting economic growth, brining much needed employment and opportunity in the Karoo.