South African industries employing 75,000 face gas supply crisis

South African industries: South African industries in this context refers to gas-dependent manufacturing and processing sectors such as chemicals, ceramics, glass, metals, paper, food processing and other heavy industries that use piped natural gas for heat and power in production. These industries are directly exposed to South Africa’s looming “gas cliff,” as gas imports from Mozambique fall and Sasol phases out supply to industrial customers, putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk. Energy_supply_risk: Business groups and industrial gas users warn that South Africa faces a sharp reduction in pipeline gas from Mozambique in the next few years, creating a “gas cliff” that could force closures or fuel switching across key manufacturing sectors. Industrial_dependency: Analyses of South Africa’s energy system highlight that many factories, especially in chemicals, metals, glass and food processing, are structurally dependent on continuous gas supplies, making them highly vulnerable to both resource depletion in Mozambique and company decisions by Sasol about serving third‑party customers. Policy_and_regulation: Industry associations have repeatedly urged the South African government to urgently secure alternative gas supplies and enable infrastructure projects, arguing that current policy responses are too slow to avert disruptive shortages for industrial users.