Hon Speaker, at an energy stakeholders' meeting held here in Parliament and attended by about 60 participants, confidence was once again expressed in the government and in its commitment to create an environment conducive to the expansion of the oil and gas industry.
Such confidence is corroborated by Total's intention to sell its South African coal assets and step up its exploration for oil and gas here in South Africa.
The Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone, IDZ, was particularly identified as one of the models of what is already happening and will be creating jobs in the future.
Minister Rob Davies said that a feasibility study had shown that Saldanha Bay was strategically located to service Africa's oil and gas sector in a sustainable manner. The study also revealed the IDZ project's potential to make a contribution of 86% to the regional gross geographic product and create nearly 12 000 directly and indirectly induced jobs.
Of course, the same participants also aired their frustration with regard to the uncertainties that they expect government to address in order to mobilise the requisite capital for investments in the exploration sector in particular. I trust that government will respond timeously and restore confidence by providing the requisite leadership in this regard.
Notwithstanding all the manageable challenges, the ANC, in its January 8 Statement at Mbombela, made a commitment to ensure that the pace of oil and gas exploration ... [Time expired.]