Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG-R) transported through the Mozambique-Secunda Pipeline (MSP) by ROMPCO (Republic of Mozambique Pipeline Investments Company) is a viable alternative for South African industrial clients, said Motlokwe Sebake, the company’s head of corporate and commercial affairs.
According to the news portal Engineering News, LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state to make it easier to transport and store. It can be regasified at the point of use and burned as a fuel for electricity generation, heating or industrial processes. LNG-R has several advantages over pipeline gas, including reduced emissions, greater flexibility and lower infrastructure costs.
ROMPCO, a joint venture between the governments of South Africa and Mozambique and Sasol, operates an 865-kilometer pipeline that transports natural gas from the Pande and Temane fields in Mozambique to markets in both countries.
Motlokwe Sebake explained that the pipeline supplies around 90% of South Africa’s gas demand, mainly for industrial use. However, the supply of gas from Pande and Temane is expected to decrease in the coming years due to the depletion of the fields.
To meet this challenge, ROMPCO is considering connecting LNG from the Matola terminal in Mozambique to the ROMPCO pipeline. The Matola terminal, which is being developed by Beluluane Gas Company (BGC) and TotalEnergies, will have a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) with a capacity of two million tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG.
“The connection of Matola’s LNG supply to the ROMPCO pipeline will increase the security of South Africa’s energy supply and ensure that the MSP is used to its maximum capacity, given the decline of the Pande and Temane fields,” commented Motlokwe Sebake.
ROMPCO’s LNG-R is an attractive option for South African industrial customers and can complement South Africa’s efforts to make the transition to a low-carbon economy and increase its energy security.
