Gauteng goes green with new pipe line for natural gas
JOBURG - Natural gas reticulator Egoli Gas, has formerly launched its new pipe line on 27 May.
Gauteng is going green.
Egoli Gas natural gas reticulator, has formally launched its natural gas new pipe line project on 27 May. The pipe line will run from Sasol’s pressure reducing station in Robertsville to MTN’s 14th Avenue Campus. The aim of the orange 630mm in diameter, high-density polyethylene pipe will initially be to deliver 1.5 million gigajoules a year of natural gas imported from Mozambique by Sasol and a full capacity will be able to deliver 2.5 million gigajoules yearly. Egoli Gas previously belonged to the City of Johannesburg, but is now owned by the black-owned energy group Reatile – the lead investor in the project with MTN. Egoli Gas is already ensuring an uninterrupted power to 8 000 customers.
Reatile Group Chairman Simphiwe Mehlomakulu says, the project represents Egoli Gas’ first significant new pipeline undertaken in over 30 years.
Predictably, Reatile group and Egoli Gas members celebrated their new initiative in style – guests looked plugged and excited about the new natural gas pipe line.
With Eskom’s constant load-shedding problems, people cannot afford to be offline – Egoli gas can be used as an alternative. Shepherd Shonhiwa, Egoli Gas managing director, predicts that gas will replace electricity in 20 years. The enthusiastic Shonhiwa mentioned that residents should know more about Egoli Gas. He added that communities should know that there is a gas pipeline that goes through their neighbourhood.
“What is driving our business now is that Eskom is discouraging people from using electricity, and big companies such as MTN or even banks cannot afford to be offline, so we are there to ensure uninterrupted power supply” he informed.
Musa Gwebu, Reatile’s supply and logistics manager, spoke passionately about the new project and what it aims to achieve.
“If companies such as MTN, don’t have electricity, they need something to function, so Reatile and Egoli Gas are an alternative. We are not here to replace anyone, we are just a company that people can rely on.”
Gwebu also mentioned that they would like to introduce gas into the energy mixes of both Randburg and Sandton, where it would like to replicate the anchor-customer model being pursued with MTN.
