Season 14 Episode 6

Niall Kramer on offshore oil & gas and South Africa’s energy future

25 February 2026 · 37:51 min

On Business Talk, Michael Avery speaks to Niall Kramer, national spokesperson for the Offshore Petroleum Association of South Africa (OPASA), about the growing role of oil and gas in South Africa’s energy and economic growth strategy.

With energy security back in focus following the State of the… Nation Address and Mining Indaba, Kramer outlines the scale of the country’s gas potential. He notes that more than 10 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of discovered gas resources have already been identified across South Africa’s onshore and offshore basins. Beyond this, a further estimated 260 TCF of gas and more than 25 billion barrels (Gb) of oil potential resources could be unlocked through continued exploration along the South African coast.

The discussion unpacks how further exploration and development could support electricity generation, reduce fuel imports, strengthen the fiscus, and catalyse broader industrial growth. Kramer also addresses environmental concerns, regulatory certainty, and the importance of responsible development, emphasising that oil, gas, and renewables are not a binary choice but part of a balanced energy mix needed to power jobs, infrastructure, and long-term prosperity. Show more