The Green Connection is urging Parliament to withdraw the proposed South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) Bill, warning that it could increase South Africa’s dependence on oil and gas while weakening public oversight, climate accountability and environmental protections.
The Bill proposes creating a single state-owned company to oversee the country’s oil and gas activities by consolidating iGas, PetroSA, and the Strategic Fuel Fund.
Speaking to VOC News, The Green Connection’s Community Outreach Ambassador, Neville van Rooy, said the organisation is concerned that the legislation is moving forward without meaningful public participation.
“This Bill is basically proposing to have a new state-owned company that is dealing with all the oil and gas activities in South Africa going forward,” he said. “We are very much concerned about why this Bill is being started without the input of the general public, especially those who depend on the ocean and where the oil and gas activities are proposed to happen.”
Van Rooy warned that the proposed legislation could pave the way for increased offshore drilling and fracking activities, including in the Karoo.
“We definitely think that this Bill will give an open door for drilling activities in the ocean and fracking in the Karoo,” he said.
He also questioned how the Bill aligns with South Africa’s environmental commitments.
“We highlight the fact that there are climate commitments that the country has signed to, as well as the Climate Change Act that came into effect in March 2025. We are very concerned about how government now wants to make this company operational,” Van Rooy said.
The Green Connection maintains that the Bill should be withdrawn and reconsidered to ensure greater public participation, stronger environmental safeguards and alignment with South Africa’s climate obligations.
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
Photo: Pixabay
