Petroleum Agency SA’s Lindiwe Mekwe on where opportunities lie in oil and gas

South Africa's capacity to attract foreign direct investment in the oil and gas sector, oil and gas dependency vs renewable energy, and diversification in the industry were among the topics discussed during an interview with Lindiwe Mekwe, CEO of Petroleum Agency SA, at the Africa Oil Week in Cape Town. Mekwe highlighted the importance of promoting opportunities in South Africa's oil and gas sector to attract foreign direct investment. She mentioned successful collaborations with international companies such as Shell, Total, and ExxonMobil in the past. Despite the global shift towards renewable energy, Mekwe emphasized the ongoing need for fossil fuels in South Africa to meet its energy demands. She outlined the country's efforts to balance fossil fuels with renewable energy sources like gas to comply with international agreements on carbon emissions. Mekwe also discussed the potential for gas development, both onshore and offshore, in South Africa. However, she acknowledged the industry's current male domination and emphasized the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion to empower women and youth in the sector.