Johannesburg, 23 May 2025 – South Africa has taken a historic leap forward in
reshaping its energy future with the official launch of the South African National
Petroleum Company (SANPC) at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton.

Formed through the merger of iGas, PetroSA, and the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF),
SANPC is a new state-owned entity mandated to secure the country’s energy future,
revitalise strategic infrastructure, and lead transformation across the oil and gas
sector. The launch event brought together government leaders, private sector
stakeholders, and energy experts for a comprehensive briefing on SANPC’s structure,
strategy, and national importance.

Delivering the welcome address, SANPC Chairperson, Mr Sipho Mkhize, hailed the
company’s launch as the realisation of a long-standing policy vision.

“Today we witness the birth of a new national energy champion—conceived from a
policy commitment made by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2020 to rationalise stateowned enterprises in support of economic development. This company is not just
another state entity—it is a national asset. It embodies government’s vision for an
integrated, modernised and impactful energy sector,” said Mkhize.

He paid tribute to the teams who navigated the turbulent path to rationalisation,
particularly the leadership of CEF Chairperson Ayanda Noah and the CEF executives,
who worked tirelessly—despite the challenges of COVID-19—to fulfil Cabinet’s
mandate.

“We owe our thanks to the women and men of character who led this journey, and to
Minister Gwede Mantashe for his unwavering support,” Mkhize added.

In his keynote address, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr Gwede
Mantashe, outlined SANPC’s role as a Southern African petroleum champion, aligned
with the country’s developmental goals.

“This launch is a strategic intervention—SANPC will drive industrialisation, job creation
and inclusive growth. It will manage our strategic oil reserves, rebuild our refining
capacity, and ensure energy sovereignty while contributing to regional energy
security,” said Mantashe.

He emphasised the urgency of restoring South Africa’s refining capabilities and
reiterated government’s support for SANPC’s efforts to restart the PetroSA GTL
plant in Mossel Bay and revive the SAPREF Refinery in Durban.

CEO Mr Godfrey Moagi presented SANPC’s vision as a resilient, forward-thinking
energy player focused on value creation for the country.

“SANPC is committed to building a people-centred, future-fit energy company that
drives investment, fosters regional partnerships, and contributes to South Africa’s
economic transformation,” said Moagi.

“We are drawing on global lessons, such as those from Petrobras, while tailoring our
approach to reflect South Africa’s realities and aspirations.”

The SANPC Chairperson further shared that strategic discussions are under way with
the Ministers of Transport, Mineral Resources and Energy, and Forestry, Fisheries
and the Environment to convert the Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) in Durban into a more
flexible Multi-Buoy Mooring (MBM).

This move will support SANPC’s mandate to reduce dependency on international oil
companies, ensure security of supply, and position SANPC as a state-owned
independent terminal operator with equal berth access and robust system integrity.

“We are laying the foundation for a high-performing, agile and efficient energy
champion—capable of delivering long-term value and securing our energy
future,” concluded Mr Mkhize.
“SANPC is open for business. We invite partners to join us in building integrated,
innovative, and sustainable energy systems across South Africa and the continent.”

The launch included a strategic briefing, the unveiling of SANPC’s brand identity.
Attendees included senior government officials, energy executives, and media from
across South Africa and the region.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Email: jacky.mashapu@sa-npc.co.za
SANPC Communications Team
Email: media@sanpc.co.za

ABOUT SANPC:

The South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) is the newly established State-Owned Company. This company was formed after the merger of three of the Central Energy Fund (CEF) subsidiaries, iGas, PetroSA and Strategic Fuel Fund. It is poised to become a leading player in South Africa’s energy sector, ensuring energy security, driving modern technologies, developing, and enabling essential infrastructure, fostering strategic partnerships, and propelling social and economic development. The SANPC is also expected to oversee strategic planning, coordination, and governance of the country’s petroleum resources, contributing to the country’s sustainable development and economic growth.