Energy issues ignite strong words in Parliament
The Energy Minister wants a new oil refinery and new nuclear agreements; the DA wants an inquiry into PetroSA, and the ‘illegal’ sale of strategic fuel stocks
Cape Town — Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi wants the government to invest in a new oil refinery. In her maiden budget vote speech in the National Assembly on Friday, she said she would approach Cabinet with a proposal for an investment in a new refinery in the third quarter of this financial year. She said it was not in the interest of SA’s energy security that it was highly dependent on the import of refined oil and told MPs that a public private-partnership for the investment was the preferred option, with the private sector partner being a crude oil operator. The refinery would be majority South African-owned and would involved black shareholders. At a media briefing after her speech, Deputy Minister of Energy Thembi Majola said the department realised there was a global glut of refined oil and overcapacity at present. However she noted that the government spent a lot in terms of foreign exchange on refined oil purchases. There were also questions of sovereignty and security of...
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