South African petrochemical company, Sasol, has reduced natural gas production at its central processing facility in Temane, Mozambique.
This was announced on Wednesday by Alex Anderson, a Sasol spokesperson.
He added that the reduction in gas output was to ensure the safety of its staff and assets amid widespread post-election unrest.
The move comes amid escalating unrest following disputed elections in the country on Tuesday.
At least 21 people have been killed in the southern African nation of Mozambique since Monday, a government official said, as police officers and protesters clashed in the latest wave of unrest over a presidential election that demonstrators claim was rigged by the governing party.
While western observers said the election was not free and fair, saying there were irregularities in the tabulation process and a lack of transparency in the election period.
Sasol’s decision was motivated by the need to protect staff and infrastructure, impacting the supply chain that sends gas to South Africa via the Rompco pipeline, crucial for industries in the Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal regions.
Alex Anderson also said that:
“We have informed various gas users and our customers that we are not able to supply gas at full production rates to maintain stability of the gas value chain infrastructure and pipeline network.
“The situation around the central processing facility is calm, and there has been no security or perimeter breach,” Anderson said, adding that the safety of staff, service providers, and communities was their main priority.
Anderson reaffirmed Sasol’s dedication to the security of its employees, service providers, and local communities while highlighting that the central processing plant is still safe and that no breaches have been recorded.
What to know
The Pande-Temane gas fields in southern Mozambique are owned by the Sasol Petroleum Temane (SPT) joint venture.
Sasol are the major shareholders of SPT owning 70% and30% are shared amongst other companies.
Sasol is the developer and operator of the gas fields and the Rompco pipeline.
Natural gas from the Pande-Temane reserves is transported via the Republic of Mozambique Pipeline Investments Company (Rompco) pipeline, where it is exported to South Africa and used domestically in Mozambique for power generation and other applications.
