Pertamina NRE awaits partner clarity on $1.7b South Africa gas power project

Pertamina New & Renewable Energy (Pertamina NRE) said it is still awaiting further clarity from its South African partner regarding a planned $1.7 billion combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant project, with no significant progress since the cooperation was announced in 2024.

Pertamina NRE signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding in 2024 with Guma Africa Group Limited to explore development of a gas-fired power plant in South Africa with a planned capacity of 2 x 800 megawatts (MW), or 1,600 MW in total.

Pertamina NRE President Director John Anis said the company is still waiting for follow-up from Guma Africa, which initially invited Pertamina to participate in the project.

“We are still waiting for them, because they were the ones who made the offer. There has been no further news,” he told Bisnis.com on Thursday.

Read also: Pertamina NRE signs MoU with Chinese firm to develop clean energy projects in Indonesia

He added that the MoU signed in 2024 is non-binding and that the Indonesian firm remains ready to proceed if the project moves forward.

“If there is interest in us becoming an independent power producer there, we are ready,” John said.

The proposed plant would be comparable in scale to Indonesia’s PLTGU Jawa-1, which has a capacity of 1,760 MW.

When the partnership was first announced, Pertamina NRE estimated total investment at around $1.7 billion, although the final figure could change depending on material prices and operating costs. Based on preliminary studies, construction was projected to take 18–24 months.

The planned facility would use liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplied via a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), converting LNG into gas to fuel the turbines.

South Africa has faced recurring electricity shortages in recent years, prompting efforts to add new generation capacity. Pertamina NRE, which is expanding its domestic and overseas power portfolio, said it remains interested in participating if the project gains momentum.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak