In this Business Talk with Michael Avery interview, Niall Kramer, National Spokesperson for the Offshore Petroleum Association of South Africa (OPASA), unpacks offshore gas drilling prospects in South Africa.
Kramer is a veteran of the oil industry with nearly four decades of experience working at prominent petroleum companies.
This includes serving as the CEO of the South African Oil and Gas Alliance (SAOGA) for four years and as the Regional Integrated Marketing Manager for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East at Chevron for over six years.
Kramer also worked at Caltex for nearly nine years, serving in multiple managerial positions, and at Shell, where he worked in strategy implementation and licence applications for nearly three years.
Between these stints, he worked as a consultant on brand marketing strategies and business development.
Additionally, Kramer holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Cape Town, where he also completed the Human Development Education programme.
The interview
In this Business Talk interview, Kramer explains why now is the best time to begin discussing offshore gas drilling in South Africa and outlines how the industry can leverage natural resources with minimal environmental impact.
He explains that across South Africa, both onshore and offshore, there are over 10 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of discovered natural gas resources.
A further 260+ TCF of gas and 25+ billion barrels of oil could be unlocked through exploration.
Kramer then touches on the impact of these operations on tourism and potentially affected communities.
He also talks about South Africa’s regulatory framework, clarifying whether the country is equipped to handle offshore gas drilling.
Kramer concludes the interview by noting the key policy milestones that would signal to the global community that South Africa is ready for offshore exploration and further development.
Watch the interview with Niall Kramer below.
