People demonstrate for electricity outside the Cape Town Convention Centre during the African Energy Week
Majors pull out of flagship South African gas projects
Without a pipeline of developments in place, the country’s energy crisis is poised to worsen
South Africa’s energy ambitions suffered another setback with TotalEnergies’ recent decision to withdraw from a number of offshore blocks. These included the locations of Luiperd and Brulpadda, the two gas fields many saw as the most promising potential developments to help plug South Africa’s chronic energy shortages. TotalEnergies is withdrawing from Block 11B/12B—site of Luiperd and Brulpadda—and its 45% stake in the offshore asset, in addition to pulling out of blocks 5, 6 and 7. The French major acknowledged the Luiperd and Brulpadda gas discoveries but said it “could, however, not be turned into a commercial development as it appeared to be too challenging to economically develop and m
Also in this section
7 November 2025
The Russian company’s German assets are under Berlin’s management and are exempt from sanctions, for now, but a permanent solution still needs to be found
6 November 2025
The Russian firm made a significant attempt to expand overseas over the past two decades but is now divesting its global operations
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined
5 November 2025
Construction of the pipeline in Afghanistan is making tangible progress, but extending it into Pakistan and India remains unrealistic for political reasons
