South Africa’s national oil company PetroSA has signed a wide-ranging agreement with US industrial group General Electric (GE), which could result in the two companies collaborating on opportunities as diverse as renewable energy and shale-gas exploration, to improving efficiency at PretroSA’s existing refinery in Mossel Bay.

PetroSA chairperson Dr Benny Mokaba and GE Energy CEO John Krenicki signed the memorandum of understanding on Monday.

It covers possible water and energy optimisation initiatives at the existing gas-to-liquids refinery, as well as the possible participation of GE in the development of a utility island for the proposed Mthombo oil refinery, which could be built at Coega, in the Eastern Cape.

Also catered for under the deal were possible renewable energy initiatives by PetroSA, as well as potential upstream projects, including technological solutions for shale gas exploration and enhanced heavy oil recovery.

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