South Africa - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
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Country Analysis Brief Overview

  • South Africa has one of the world's largest synthetic fuels industries, which accounts for nearly all of its domestic liquid fuels supply.
  • South Africa has the world's ninth largest recoverable coal reserves and holds 95 percent of Africa's total coal reserves. Additionally, it is the fifth largest coal exporter in the world.
  • South Africa is the sole importer of natural gas from Mozambique, which is used to supply Sasol's operations at the Secunda CTL plant and power some gas-fired plants. The gas supplied to the Mossel Bay GTL plant is domestically produced offshore.
  • South Africa has the second largest crude oil refinery system in Africa and imports the majority of its crude oil from members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
  • South Africa's total electricity consumption has grown by about 20 percent over the last decade. The government has set out ambitious plans to expand the sector in an attempt to avoid another power crisis, which the country experienced in early 2008.

Read full South Africa Analysis Brief »

Analysis Last Updated: January 17, 2013

Overview data for South Africa

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Petroleum (Thousand Barrels per Day)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
South Africa
Africa
World
Rank
    
 South Africa
Total Oil Production 0.0000 , 4.0000 , 20.0000 , 55.0000 , 55.0000 , 60.0000 , 67.1316 , 72.1408 , 67.2554 , 77.2731 , 77.3614 , 77.4147 , 140.1935 , 194.5206 , 195.0919 , 206.7887 , 208.1799 , 210.4160 , 213.8069 , 194.8304 , 201.6306 , 209.2858 , 211.4443 , 202.3094 , 234.0417 , 215.2108 , 201.4067 , 196.1957 , 193.7133 , 182.6166 , 180.4643 , 181.0411 , 180.9537
(1980-2012)
181.04 9,367 87,329 40   180.95
Crude Oil Production 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 17.9780 , 25.0000 , 26.0000 , 26.2055 , 19.4959 , 29.6411 , 55.8279 , 34.4027 , 20.1562 , 16.0575 , 14.5820 , 4.0000 , 3.4932 , 4.0000 , 3.9126
(1980-2012)
4.00 8,571 74,136 80   3.91
Consumption 312.0000 , 324.0000 , 349.0000 , 338.0000 , 360.0000 , 350.0000 , 349.9600 , 344.5220 , 342.2971 , 348.1930 , 375.0000 , 402.5088 , 411.6224 , 402.1100 , 409.5597 , 421.0732 , 427.7251 , 438.6958 , 450.7740 , 465.6658 , 457.9261 , 458.2411 , 475.4421 , 490.2106 , 503.9100 , 536.6270 , 550.6286 , 560.8354 , 526.9352 , 532.6089 , 549.4126 , 595.0000 , 608.8229
(1980-2012)
595.00 3,339 88,254 31   608.82 F
Estimated Petroleum Net Exports -312.0000 , -320.0000 , -329.0000 , -283.0000 , -305.0000 , -290.0000 , -282.8284 , -272.3812 , -275.0417 , -270.9199 , -297.6386 , -325.0941 , -271.4289 , -207.5894 , -214.4679 , -214.2845 , -219.5452 , -228.2799 , -236.9671 , -270.8354 , -256.2955 , -248.9553 , -263.9978 , -287.9012 , -269.8683 , -321.4162 , -349.2219 , -364.6398 , -333.2219 , -349.9922 , -368.9483 , -413.9589 , -427.8692
(1980-2012)
-413.96 6,028 -- 19   -427.87
Refinery Capacity 479.0000 , 469.0000 , 424.0000 , 424.0000 , 389.0000 , 389.0000 , 389.0000 , 389.0000 , 434.0000 , 434.0000 , 434.0000 , 431.0000 , 430.5000 , 430.5000 , 364.0380 , 401.0380 , 401.0000 , 414.1500 , 465.0000 , 468.5470 , 466.5470 , 473.5470 , 468.5470 , 489.5470 , 519.5470 , 489.5470 , 504.5470 , 488.2970 , 485.2970 , 485.2970 , 485.2970 , 486.5470 , 484.5470
(1980-2012)
487 3,220 88,097 37   485
Proved Reserves(Billion Barrels) 0.1165 , 0.1150 , 0.1145 , 77777777777.0000 , 77777777777.0000 , 77777777777.0000 , 77777777777.0000 , 77777777777.0000 , 77777777777.0000 , 77777777777.0000 , 77777777777.0000 , 0.0410 , 0.0404 , 0.0267 , 0.0267 , 0.0294 , 0.0294 , 0.0294 , 0.0294 , 0.0157 , 0.0157 , 0.0157 , 0.0157 , 0.0157 , 0.0150 , 0.0150 , 0.0150 , 0.0150 , 0.0150 , 0.0150 , 0.0150
(1983-2013)
0.02 124 NA 78   0.02
Natural Gas (Billion Cubic Feet)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
South Africa
Africa
World
Rank
 
 South Africa
Production 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 1.4100 , 63.5670 , 68.8600 , 69.2200 , 65.0098 , 61.8013 , 51.2068 , 49.4410 , 58.2698 , 74.1615 , 81.2245 , 80.5182 , 78.7525 , 77.6930 , 102.4135 , 54.0320 , 48.0284 , 37.4339 , 34.2556 , 45.2032
(1980-2011)
34.26 7,373 111,954 63   45.20
Consumption 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 1.4100 , 63.5670 , 68.8600 , 69.2200 , 65.0098 , 61.8013 , 51.2068 , 49.4410 , 58.2698 , 74.1615 , 81.2245 , 80.5182 , 78.7525 , 77.6930 , 148.3230 , 140.2006 , 145.4978 , 126.7809 , 141.6132 , 161.7427
(1980-2011)
141.61 3,558 113,321 63   161.74
Net Export/Imports(-) 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , -45.9095 , -86.1686 , -97.4694 , -89.3470 , -107.3576 , -116.5395
(1990-2011)
-107.36 3,813 -- 35   -116.54
Proved Reserves
(Trillion Cubic Feet)		 0.4000 , 0.4000 , 0.3500 , 0.9800 , 1.7600 , 1.7600 , 1.7600 , 1.8000 , 1.9000 , 0.9430 , 0.9590 , 0.9590 , 0.9000 , 0.8260 , 0.7800 , 0.7800 , 0.7800 , 0.0010 , 0.0010 , 0.0010 , 0.0010 , 0.0010
(1983-2006)
0.00 477 6,046 92   0.00
Coal (Million Short Tons)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
South Africa
Africa
World
Rank
 
 South Africa
Production 131.9489 , 149.3268 , 154.6025 , 160.5263 , 179.5974 , 191.2620 , 194.7663 , 194.6153 , 199.9152 , 194.4720 , 193.1812 , 196.4275 , 201.1993 , 203.0447 , 215.8386 , 227.3021 , 227.4752 , 244.3163 , 246.9199 , 242.9935 , 248.9350 , 250.7869 , 245.7669 , 263.7843 , 267.6659 , 270.0509 , 269.8172 , 273.0050 , 278.0173 , 275.0146 , 280.5625 , 279.0005
(1980-2011)
280.562 286 7,954 7   279.001
Consumption 104.7659 , 116.3677 , 123.5173 , 127.3467 , 137.4891 , 141.7683 , 144.6343 , 148.0415 , 151.3154 , 140.4874 , 139.0819 , 143.6385 , 147.3900 , 146.3897 , 160.7450 , 162.2606 , 163.9363 , 171.6652 , 160.8387 , 169.1045 , 175.0096 , 177.8590 , 170.1219 , 185.9259 , 198.8200 , 193.3487 , 196.0791 , 201.1564 , 216.8544 , 211.8246 , 209.4039 , 201.4033
(1980-2011)
209.404 223 7,770 6   201.403
Net Export/Imports(-) 32187.4917 , 32959.1096 , 31085.1803 , 33179.5719 , 42108.2939 , 49493.7800 , 50155.1669 , 46627.7705 , 48654.9211 , 53917.3555 , 54632.7556 , 53710.4969 , 54741.8844 , 58603.8554 , 59562.3273 , 65383.2676 , 66666.1453 , 69955.4424 , 72613.6166 , 72041.5589 , 75839.0215 , 75050.8689 , 74585.6935 , 75394.7901 , 71534.4957 , 76702.1313 , 73738.0161 , 71848.6544 , 61162.8481 , 55116.6703 , 71158.6075 , 77597.2082
(1980-2011)
71.159 64 -- 103   77.597
Electricity (Billion Kilowatthours)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
South Africa
Africa
World
Rank
 
 South Africa
Net Generation 93.0730 , 106.9320 , 111.9150 , 113.8700 , 127.3950 , 133.2360 , 138.2740 , 142.0100 , 148.1320 , 153.3900 , 156.0070 , 158.8610 , 157.0790 , 163.2680 , 170.7050 , 176.0510 , 186.1880 , 195.0630 , 191.0410 , 188.4900 , 195.8289 , 196.2893 , 203.2701 , 217.2317 , 227.5477 , 227.9480 , 235.4671 , 244.8222 , 238.3193 , 232.1184 , 241.9274
(1980-2010)
232.12 594 19,071 15   241.93
Net Consumption 85.5190 , 98.8920 , 103.2660 , 104.4970 , 119.0260 , 124.6240 , 132.1300 , 134.0210 , 140.3480 , 144.6200 , 144.6920 , 146.2600 , 143.5800 , 148.0200 , 154.1000 , 161.6680 , 165.3730 , 172.3570 , 172.0430 , 173.8510 , 180.1029 , 180.2853 , 190.3731 , 196.1317 , 200.0067 , 205.0450 , 210.6331 , 219.6572 , 212.2583 , 206.0814 , 214.9844
(1980-2010)
206.08 530 17,360 15   214.98
Installed Capacity (GWe) 20.5480 , 23.8590 , 23.9590 , 25.5240 , 26.3920 , 24.3710 , 26.6940 , 29.6300 , 31.4770 , 32.4150 , 33.8550 , 36.2400 , 36.8580 , 37.6480 , 35.9380 , 37.7620 , 36.5750 , 39.1340 , 39.4490 , 41.2170 , 46.0830 , 41.8810 , 41.8900 , 41.8900 , 41.8900 , 42.0900 , 42.6970 , 42.9130 , 44.2740 , 44.2560 , 44.2580
(1980-2010)
44.26 130 4,843 21   44.26
Total Primary Energy (Quadrillion Btu)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
South Africa
Africa
World
Rank
 
 South Africa
Production 2.7152 , 3.0682 , 3.1732 , 3.2813 , 3.7156 , 3.9793 , 4.0973 , 4.0688 , 4.2347 , 4.1214 , 4.0458 , 4.1197 , 4.2144 , 4.3043 , 4.5980 , 4.8406 , 4.8556 , 5.4378 , 5.5247 , 5.4344 , 5.5782 , 5.6182 , 5.5209 , 5.9142 , 6.0647 , 6.0524 , 6.0384 , 6.0446 , 6.1393 , 6.0611 , 6.1797
(1980-2010)
6.061 36 487 17   6.180
Consumption 2.7283 , 2.9559 , 3.1580 , 3.1872 , 3.4528 , 3.5160 , 3.6177 , 3.6684 , 3.7810 , 3.5505 , 3.5234 , 3.6762 , 3.7619 , 3.6746 , 4.0841 , 4.1098 , 4.1653 , 4.5569 , 4.3493 , 4.4632 , 4.5837 , 4.6471 , 4.5358 , 4.8760 , 5.2151 , 5.1204 , 5.2876 , 5.4160 , 5.7295 , 5.6283 , 5.5930
(1980-2010)
5.628 16 488 19   5.593
Energy Intensity
(Btu per 2005 U.S. Dollars)		 11373.0421 , 11691.7967 , 12542.1527 , 12896.0839 , 13292.9729 , 13702.4604 , 14095.9710 , 13999.7535 , 13847.6137 , 12699.2520 , 12642.6688 , 13326.7282 , 13935.1710 , 13445.8325 , 14476.0700 , 14127.0563 , 13726.4787 , 14629.9335 , 13891.4845 , 13927.0188 , 13732.4664 , 13551.5582 , 12759.0178 , 13323.2631 , 13628.8287 , 12710.7710 , 12429.1429 , 12059.6732 , 12317.2391 , 12306.5700 , 11890.7494
(1980-2010)
12,307 5,405 7,461 24   11,891
Carbon Dioxide Emissions (Million Metric Tons of CO₂)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
South Africa
Africa
World
Rank
 
 South Africa
Total from Consumption of Fossil Fuels
 235.0257 , 254.6974 , 272.9373 , 276.5836 , 296.4670 , 302.0465 , 308.7292 , 315.2349 , 319.5534 , 297.9898 , 297.9767 , 310.3727 , 320.1934 , 318.9894 , 347.1736 , 347.4662 , 352.2765 , 383.7965 , 365.3317 , 376.6460 , 386.0143 , 392.7230 , 379.9767 , 412.7344 , 442.1973 , 432.4129 , 444.3870 , 457.0218 , 489.9699 , 477.5584 , 473.1547 , 461.5650
(1980-2011)
473.15 1,155 31,502 11   461.57

-- = Not applicable; NA = Not available; F = Forecast value
Sources: EIA. For more detailed data, see International Energy Statistics.

Data last updated: May 30, 2013

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