Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although natural gas is utilised as a major source of energy in the world, in the past it has made a negligible contribution to the primary energy needs of Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. This deviation from the rest of the world is in spite of known natural gas reserves in Mozambique, as well as off the coast of Namibia and South Africa. The reasons why natural gas is not a primary energy source of note in Southern Africa relate to the fact that cheap coal has always been available in abundance in South Africa, past exploration activities were focused on finding crude oil and regional conflicts prevented the development of the available natural reserves. The current interest in natural gas as a source of energy relates to the environmental advantages of natural gas over coal and crude oil, as well as the stated objective of the governments of Namibia and South Africa to diversify the energy supply to these countries The purpose of this study was to determine the economic impact of establishing a natural gasbased industry in Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. To this end it was necessary to estimate the potential size of the natural gas reserves available in Southern Africa. It was also necessary to calculate the economic value to be added by utilising the few technologies applicable to Southern Africa to consume the natural gas. Based on the economic value added, it was recommended that initiatives to develop the available natural gas resources in Southern Africa should continue. When developing a natural gas-based industry, care must be taken to ensure that a balanced supply chain is established. The principle of a supply chain holds that there must be balanced growth through all the links of the supply chain. The principle of a supply chain highlights the balance to be played in developing the upstream segment as well as the downstream segment of a natural gas industry. Excessive rewards for risks taken by developers in the upstream segment of a natural gas supply chain will be to detriment of encouraging new consumers for natural gas. Significant efforts have been made to establish a regulatory framework in Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa to facilitate a balanced development of the available natural gas resources. There are however areas where the established regulatory framework does not adhere to these requirements and must therefore be reviewed. Several initiatives must also be launched to establish large volume anchor consumers for natural gas. These initiative include increased access to foreign capital as well as a pricing mechanism promoting the long-term development of natural gas resources Once large volume anchor consumers have been established, is will be a simple matter to grow the natural gas industry by adding smaller consumers to the established distribution infrastructure. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel natuurlike gas 'n belangrike bron van energie is vir die res van die wêreld, het natuurlike gas in die verlede 'n weglaatbare breukdeel van die primêre energiebehoeftes van Mosambiek, Namibië en Suid-Afrika voorsien. Hierdie verskil teenoor die res van die wêreld is ten spyte daarvan dat daar ontdekte natuurlike gasreserwes in Mosambiek sowel as in Namibiese en Suid-Afrikaanse gebiedswaters was. Die redes hoekom natuurlike gas nie 'n belangrike bron van primêre energie in Suidelike Afrika is nie, is te wyte aan die feit dat goedkoop steenkool nog altyd in oorvloed beskikbaar was in Suid-Afrika; dat eksplorasie aktiwiteite gefokus het op ruolie eerder as natuurlike gas en dat streekskonflikte verhoed het dat die beskikbare natuurlike gasbronne ontwikkel kon word. Die huidige belangstelling in natuurlike gas as 'n bron van energie is te wyte aan die omgewingsvoordele wat natuurlike gas inhou bo steenkool en ru-olie, sowel as die verklaarde beleid van die Namibiese en Suid-Afrikaanse regerings om die energieverskaffing aan hierdie lande te versprei tussen verskillende bronne. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die ekonomiese effek te bereken wat die onwikkeling van 'n natuurlike gasgebaseerde industrie in Mosambiek, Namibië en Suid-Afrika teweeg kan bring. Om die ekonomiese effek te bereken moes 'n skatting gemaak word van die verwagte grootte van beskibare natuurlike gasvelde in Suidelike Afrika. Dit was ook nodig om die ekonomiese toegevoegde waarde te bereken deur gebruik te maak van die beskikbare tegnologie, van toepassing op Suidelike Afrika, wat natuurlike gas kan verbruik. Gebaseer op die ekonomiese toegevoegde waarde is dit aanbeveel dat die pogings om die beskikbare natuurlike gasbronne in Suidelike Afrika te ontwikkel, moet voortgaan. Wanneer 'n natuurlike gas-gebaseerde industrie ontwikkel word, is dit belangrik dat 'n gebalanseerde verskaffingslyn geskep moet word. Die beginsel van 'n verskaffinglyn is dat daar eweredige groei in al die onderskeie komponente van die verskaffingslyn moet wees. Die beginsel van'n verskaffingslyn beklemtoon die balans wat gehandhaaf moet word tussen die stroom-op en stroom-af segmente van 'n natuurlike gas industrie. Oormatige beloning vir risiko's deur ontwikkelaars in the stroom-op segment van die natuurlike gasverskaffingslyn sal tot nadeel wees van nuwe verbruikers in die stroom-af segment. Daadwerlike pogings is aangewend om 'n regulatoriese raamwerk te skep binne Mosambiek, Namibië en Suid-Afrika sodat 'n gebalanseerde ontwikkeling van die beskikbare natuurlike gasbronne kan geskied. Daar is egter areas waar die regulatoriese raamwerk nie aan die vereistes voldoen nie en daarom sal dit hersien moet word. Verskeie aksies sal ook geloods moet word om hoë volume ankerkliënte van natuurlike gas te vestig. Hierdie aksies sluit verhoogde toegang tot buitelandse kapitaal, sowel as die ontwikkeling van 'n prysmeganisme wat die langtermynontwikkeling van die natuurlike gasbronne ten doel het. Sodra 'n hoë volume ankerkliënt gevestig is, is dit 'n eenvoudige aksie om groei in die natuurlike gas industrie te bewerkstellig deur kleiner kliënte by die bestaande verspreidingsinfrastruktuur te voeg.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the maintenance management system (MMS) on production output and profitability (PO&P) at the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA) GTL Refinery as a source of competitive advantage. State-Owned Companies and, or more specifically the PetroSA GTL Refinery must maintain its strategic importance for government fuel security but, at the same time, it must compete against private refineries in terms of achieving high production volumes, maximising profitability and to maintain its stake of 6.5% of the available production capacity. The literature review for this study suggested that the maintenance management system (MMS) impacts positively on production output and profitability (PO&P). The MMS has a tremendous influence on PO&P at the PetroSA GTL Refinery. Using a quantitative research design, cross-sectional research survey and the Maintenance Scorecards (MS) assessment tool, this study was conducted on six areas of the PetroSA GTL Refinery. Two population groups, namely production and maintenance groups participated in the survey. Fifty-six respondents belonged to the maintenance group and thirty-eight respondents belonged to the Production Group. All the Maintenance and Production Group respondents completed the MS questions designed to fit the characteristics of these population groups. Correlation analysis in terms of the means, standard deviations, gap analysis, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (r) as well as the coefficient of determination (R²) was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study indicated a moderate positive linear correlation between the MMS and PO&P. Recommendations based on the findings were tabled in chapter 7 to improve and enhance production perspective (asset health gap), safety perspective (asset prioritisation gap) and the learning and growth perspective (skills and working condition gap). / Business Management / M. Com. ((Business Management)

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / The relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and competitiveness in South Africa and Nigeria was investigated. Existing data available in literature was used to analyse trends with regards to FDI and competitiveness in South Africa and Nigeria over the last 10 years. According to the UNCTAD report (2002) in 1997, FDI in Africa was concentrated on five countries namely, Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa. Nigeria in the last ten years has consistently outperformed South Africa with regards to the amount of FDI received; yet South Africa outperforms Nigeria on all the competitiveness indices. This has been primarily due to the fact that Nigeria's main source of FDI is the petroleum sector. In Africa 75% of FDI goes into countries endowed with petroleum and mineral resources with very few of these strangling to meet the above list of WAIPA reasons favourable for FDI. The ultimate goal of a nations competitiveness is to increase efficiencies under free and fair market conditions through foreign trade, production and investment. Main results of this study have been the following; • Oil is a major FDI attractor of FDI in Africa, and explains why Nigeria receives more FDI than South Africa. • Although Nigeria does not have a good competitive record relative to South Africa it does however offer competitive fiscal terms to IOC's to explore and exploit the countries abundant petroleum resources. • Oil wealth struggles to filter down to the people of the country, as Nigeria's per capita income remains about fifteen times lower than South Africa's, with its more efficient economy. • This study confirms the fact that many MNC's especially in Africa tend to be driven by resource-seeking opportunities and rather than efficiency seeking opportunities. Unfortunately many of the petroleum exporting countries are unable to use the wealth generated by the petroleum industry to enhance their global competitiveness. The problem is that many countries are not diversified enough and rely extensively on commodities to generate much needed revenue.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

Submitted to School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa 24 August 2016 / The recent significant discoveries of gas in Mozambique could provide a much needed solution to the South African electricity crisis, but at what cost? This research report seeks to determine the economic viability of utilising Mozambican Gas to produce electricity by using data from the Integrated Resource Plan 2010-2030 Update of 2013 in a levelised cost of electricity model. The Mozambican gas fields are yet to be developed and the final price at which gas will be available is unclear, but a price range determined by ICF international in a study for the World Bank is assumed for the purposes of the study, with the results yielding a range levelised cost of energy. The results of the levelised cost determine that Mozambican gas can be utilised to provide an economical solution to the south African electricity crisis, but the price at which gas is available will determine the type of generation, either peaking power, midmerit and or baseload generation. / MT2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the maintenance management system (MMS) on production output and profitability (PO&P) at the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA) GTL Refinery as a source of competitive advantage. State-Owned Companies and, or more specifically the PetroSA GTL Refinery must maintain its strategic importance for government fuel security but, at the same time, it must compete against private refineries in terms of achieving high production volumes, maximising profitability and to maintain its stake of 6.5% of the available production capacity. The literature review for this study suggested that the maintenance management system (MMS) impacts positively on production output and profitability (PO&P). The MMS has a tremendous influence on PO&P at the PetroSA GTL Refinery. Using a quantitative research design, cross-sectional research survey and the Maintenance Scorecards (MS) assessment tool, this study was conducted on six areas of the PetroSA GTL Refinery. Two population groups, namely production and maintenance groups participated in the survey. Fifty-six respondents belonged to the maintenance group and thirty-eight respondents belonged to the Production Group. All the Maintenance and Production Group respondents completed the MS questions designed to fit the characteristics of these population groups. Correlation analysis in terms of the means, standard deviations, gap analysis, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (r) as well as the coefficient of determination (R²) was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study indicated a moderate positive linear correlation between the MMS and PO&P. Recommendations based on the findings were tabled in chapter 7 to improve and enhance production perspective (asset health gap), safety perspective (asset prioritisation gap) and the learning and growth perspective (skills and working condition gap). / Business Management / M. Com. ((Business Management)

This thesis presents a political geography of transparency, regulation and resource making in shale gas projects in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US). The emergence of shale gas as a politically and economically desirable resource occupied national political aspirations, most notably in the US and to some extent in the UK, for reasons of energy security and economic development. Although shale gas has become a globally desirable resource, this thesis shows that the resource is not same everywhere. Following knowledge making practices in distinct regulatory regimes of the UK and the US, I trace how making of shale gas resource is subjected to contestation in a range of technical fields, such as law, economics, geosciences and environmental impact assessment. The study is based on in-depth analysis of technical and policy documents, and interviews with a wide range of actors (i.e. regulators, gas companies, investors, scientists, landowners), and field visits in the US (New York, Pennsylvania and Texas) and the UK (Lancashire, Litchfield and London). Drawing on theoretical insights from the Science and Technology Studies (STS), legal and resource geographies, I empirically showed that both regulatory practices and resource materialities matter in encapsulating making of shale gas projects in different national contexts. Documenting how information production and its contestation is entangled with assemblages of materials and technologies, as well as regulatory, geoscientific and market interventions in the context of the UK and the US, this thesis offers an alternative account of the geography of transparency and regulation regarding the development of shale gas policies. The political viability of shale projects depends on how these informational spaces are generated, contested and transformed in nationally specific scientific practices and regulatory regimes.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Oil dependency has increased in the past few decades and the search for new reserves is a constant quest within the oil and gas industry. The oil and gas industry is characterised by the separation of fuel production facilities and the intended markets for its derivatives. This separation creates challenges for proper supply chain management and network configuration. A well-balanced network design becomes of utmost importance. The use of third party logistics service providers has further complicated this separation challenges with this increase in distance between the resources and the intended markets. By using various best practices within the field of network configuration, the consolidation of multiple segments of various supply chains can improve efficiency and lead to more streamlined supply chains. The primary objective of the study is to develop an alternative to the normative methods used in placing of facilities. The secondary objective is to establish whether consolidation of multiple segments of various supply chains within the oil and gas industry is feasible. By using advanced descriptive decision support techniques and technologies, the study showed how the application of these techniques can assist management with improved decision making at a strategic level. The study is based on a prominent service provider within the oil and gas industry. Both quantitative and qualitative data were used by the researcher to illustrate the complexities involved in serving the direct and indirect supply chains of the oil and gas industry. The analysis shows that by using advanced descriptive decision support techniques and technologies, management can use the process proposed in the study to great effect in visualizing the current supply chains. Consolidation opportunities were also found across multiple supply chains within the service provider. By looking at the historical data, IT-based descriptive decision support techniques and technologies demonstrated the value of visually representing the supply chain and the decisions that could be made based on the results. A strategic hub, as a network configuration option, can be a feasible option if it serves a defined geographical area and is focused on a specific industry (in this case oil and gas). Crucial to a successful study of this nature, is the quality of data. During the study, the issue of effective data cleaning, aggregation, categorization and preparation became evident. Strategic studies will only be effective if proper data cleaning and preparations are done on a regular basis and updated regularly. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die afhanklikheid van olie het die afgelope paar dekades toegeneem. Daar is ook ʼn konstante soektog na nuwe reserwes in die olie- en gasindustrie. Die olie- en gasindustrie word gekenmerk deur die skeiding van brandstofproduksiefasiliteite en die beoogde markte vir sy afgeleides. Hierdie skeiding skep uitdagings vir behoorlike voorsieningskettingbestuur en netwerkkonfigurasie. ʼn Goeie, gebalanseerde netwerkontwerp is van uiterste belang. Die gebruik van derde-party logistieke diensverskaffers het hierdie skeidings-uitdagings verder gestrem as gevolg van langer afstande tussen hulpbronne en die beoogde markte. Verskeie beste praktyke in die studieveld van netwerkkonfigurasie en ontwerp aangewend word. Dit kan die konsolidasie van verskeie segmente van verskillende voorsieningskettings se doeltreffendheid aansienlik verbeter en lei tot meer vaartbelynde voorsieningskettings. Die primêre doel van die studie is om ʼn alternatief tot die normatiewe metodes, wat tans gebruik word vir die plasing van fasiliteite te bepaal. Die sekondêre doel is om vas te stel of konsolidering van verskeie segmente van verskillende voorsieningskettings in die olie- en gasindustrie haalbaar is. ʼn Alternatiewe tot die normatiewe metodes is gevorderde, beskrywende besluitnemingsondersteuningtegnieke en tegnologie. In die studie is getoon hoe die gebruik van hierdie alternatiewe metodes kan help met verbeterde besluitneming op strategiese vlak. Die studie is gebaseer op 'n prominente diensverskaffer in die olie- en gasindustrie. Beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data is deur die navorser gebruik om die kompleksiteit in die bediening van die direkte en indirekte voorsieningskettings in die olie- en gasindustrie te illustreer. Hierdie studie het uitgewys hoe die voorgestelde proses ontwikkel en die visualisering van voorsieningskettings tot ʼn groot mate kan verbeter met die gebruik van gevorderde, beskrywende besluitnemingsondersteuningtegnieke en tegnologie. Daar is ook konsolidasie geleenthede gevind vir elemente oor verskeie voorsieningskettings van die diensverskaffer. Deur toepaslike historiese data te ondersoek, met behulp van IT-gebaseerde beskrywende besluitnemingsondersteuningtegnieke en tegnologie, kan die waarde van die visuele voorstelling van voorsieningskettings insiggewend gedemonstreer word. Meer ingeligte en effektiewe besluite kan gevolglik geneem word. Daar is gevind dat ʼn strategiese konsolidasiepunt (“hub”), as ʼn netwerk konfigurasie opsie, moontlik lewensvatbaar kan wees binne ʼn bepaalde geografiese area vir ʼn spesifieke bedryf (in die geval olie en gas). Die kwaliteit van die data is egter van uiterste belang om ʼn suksesvolle studie te verseker. Tydens hierdie studie is die belangrikheid van datasuiwering, samevoeging, kategorisering en voorbereiding duidelik uitgewys. Strategiese studies sal slegs effektief wees indien behoorlike datasuiwering en voorbereiding op 'n gereelde basis gedoen en opgedateer word.

Thesis (MA (Political Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The central research question of this study concerns the level of political risk that the Ogaden region of eastern Ethiopia poses for companies operating in, or intending to operating in the oil and gas industry of that region. The aim is to answer that question as well as two further subquestions. The first sub-question concerns issues pertaining to the factors and indicators that would be included in a political risk model specifically envisaged for the oil and gas industry, and the second concerns the practical application of political risk as a decision-making and management tool for investors. It is practically impossible to gather all the relevant information when undertaking a political risk analysis, to know all the unknowns. It would take an immense amount of time to attempt such an analysis and the costs would be exorbitant. In creating a political risk model specific to the oil and gas industry, a methodological approach is adopted to streamline this process. It is the aim of this research study to engage in this streamlining process; selecting the most salient variables that can then be incorporated into an industry specific model, which will yield realistic and practical results. In terms of the political risk indication, the political risk analysis of the Ogden returned a score putting the region in the high risk indication bracket. In terms of investment indication, the score indicates a moderate to high risk for investments the oil and gas industry. This does not mean that investors should stay away from the region. A high degree of risk, if sufficiently managed, can result in increased opportunities for higher returns for the investor. Beyond the traditional approaches to risk management there are other avenues that the investor may choose to follow, such as a commitment to engage with local stakeholders. These initiatives should extend beyond mere financial incentives to a more genuine form of community interaction, with extensive local consultation. Strategies, policies, and procedures should be developed that ensure that companies engage productively with NGOs and the media at local levels in order create a suitable environment for all involved. Political risk is more than simply providing a report with a risk rating tagged to the end of it. It should be a fully integrated part of the investor’s strategy, essential to the continued success and profitability of the investment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die sentrale navorsingsvraag van hierdie studie handel oor die vlak van politieke risiko wat maatskappye wat besigheidsbelange in die Ogaden streek van oos Ethiopië het, of wat beplan om besigheidsbelange in die olie- en gasbedryf te begin, in die gesig staar. Die doel is om die vlak van politieke risiko te identifiseer en om verder twee sub-vrae te beantwoord. Die eerste sub-vraag is om die faktore en indikatore te identifiseer wat deel sal vorm van ‘n politieke risikomodel, spesifiek vir die olie- en gasbedryf en die tweede handel oor die praktiese aanwending van politieke risiko as ’n besluitnemings- en risikobestuur-instrument vir beleggers. Dit is prakties onmoontlik om alle relevante informasie in te samel wanneer ’n politieke risiko-analise gedoen word, of om bewus te wees van al die onbekende aspekte. Dit sal ‘n ongelooflike lang tydperk neem asook die kostes sal uiters hoog wees. Wanneer ‘n politieke risikomodel spesifiek vir die olie- en gasindustrie gebou word, word ’n metodologiese benadering om die proses te vergemaklik gevolg. Dit is die doel van hierdie studie om by te dra tot die vereenvoudiging van hierdie metodologiese proses deur die mees prominente aspekte te selekteer wat gevolglik geïnkorporeer kan word in ‘n industrie spesifieke model. Die model sal beide realistiese en praktiese resultate bied. Ten opsigte van die skaal vir belegging en politieke risiko indikasie, het politieke risiko analise van die Ogaden gedui op ’n hoë risiko indikasievlak. Vir belegging dui die risikovlak op ’n medium tot hoë risikovlak vir die olie- en gasindustrie. Dit beteken nie dat beleggers die area noodwendig moet vermy nie. Indien ’n hoë risikovlak aanwesig is, kan suksesvolle bestuur steeds verhoogde winsgeleenthede vir die belegger verseker. Behalwe vir die tradisionele benaderings tot risikobestuur en risikomitigasie is daar ook ander moontlikhede wat die belegger kan volg om die vlak van risiko te verlaag, soos ’n ooreenkoms om saam met plaaslike belanghebbendes te werk. Sulke meganismes moet verby finansiële belonings strek en ‘n opregte vorm van gemeenskapsinteraksie aanneem wat net kan gebeur deur middel van uitgebreide plaaslike konsultasie. Strategie, beleid en prosedure moet ontwikkel word, wat sal verseker dat maatskappye optimaal saamwerk met nie-regerings-organisasies en die media op plaaslike vlak. Dit sal verseker dat ’n geskikte omgewing vir alle partye geskep word. Poltieke risiko is veel meer as net risiko-evaluasie waar ’n vlak van risiko verskaf word. Dit behoort ten volle deel te wees van die belegging en is essensieël tot die sukses en winsvlak vir die belegger.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / With the advent of shale gas exploration in the Karoo region, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible socio-economic impacts of shale gas development on the town of Beaufort West in the Karoo. A qualitative study method was used to establish possible socio economic impacts by reviewing literature with regard to existing shale gas development as well as a case study from the United States of America (USA). A desktop study of Beaufort West was carried out to establish current socio economic trends in the town. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders to establish their concerns and opinion regarding the possibility of shale gas exploration and production in the area of Beaufort West in the Karoo. The results of the study concluded that the concerns of the key stakeholders were definitely relevant as their livelihood would be threatened if there was any possibility of contamination of their water sources. Other possible socio economic impacts included infrastructure concerns with regard to road maintenance, tourism declining and the threat of noise and air pollution. The study recommends that if the shale gas development process were to go ahead, the South African government would need to ensure that best practices are incorporated by all gas drilling companies. A team of qualified and trained regulators should monitor well pads and hydraulic fracturing methods as well as volumes of water used and the disposal of waste water. The regulations existing in the country should be revised to incorporate the stringent standards of other countries that have strict monitoring policies in place. In order to protect the people of the Karoo and the heritage of South Africa, the government must ensure that gas companies are held liable for any kind of environmental or socio economic impact.