Government spells out plans to keep transport wheels rolling

Government has announced farreaching
plans to keep the wheels
of South Africa’s transport industry
rolling.
In her budget vote presented to
Parliament earlier this year, minerals
and energy minister Buyelwa Sonjica
said there would be renewed focus
on natural gas in order to reduce the
demand for diesel by Eskom.
“We are increasing our efforts
of introducing natural gas into the
South African economy for thermal
applications of energy. This will be
a long journey that will start with
LPG, go through imported LNG and
hopefully end up with natural gas from
our own shores or our neighbours.
“Over the past year PetroSA has
developed this opportunity to a point
where there are plans to import LNG
for power as well as fuel production.
This initiative will reduce Eskom's
reliance on diesel as a fuel for the
power stations in the Cape and,
obviously, make more fuel available
for transportation purposes”.
Steps are also being taken to
increase fuel production in the
country, and an “Energy Security
Master Plan” has been gazetted.
“Energy security is not just about
availability but also about affordability
of energy”.