Cape town: Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau has asserted that South Africa's industrial future will be shaped by bold and collaborative decision-making. Speaking at the Sasol Engagement Dinner during the Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Thursday, Tau outlined a vision for reindustrialisation centered on a low-carbon economy.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Minister stated that the path to a thriving, competitive, and sustainable economy lies in adopting a low-carbon industrial policy that attracts global investment, broadens market access, and safeguards South Africa's industrial base. Tau emphasized the importance of building an energy system of the future, mobilizing capital at scale, and securing a position in the global critical minerals economy as essential steps towards decarbonisation and reindustrialisation.

He further highlighted the pivotal role that Sasol and its clients have in this transformation, affirming that the government is ready to partner with them. Tau described this transitional period as a transformative opportunity to drive growth, strengthen competitiveness, and expand opportunities for all South Africans. He underscored the necessity of reliable electricity that is both green and affordable, noting that hard-to-abate sectors require sustainable fuels that are competitive at scale.

The Minister also stressed the need for coordinated planning, enhanced transparency, and a shared commitment to long-term policy certainty. Collaboration, he noted, must extend across government-to-government channels and can be advanced through deepening commercial dialogue with the United States, strengthening cooperation with China, and engaging with the European Union through the Clean Trade and Investment Partnership.

Tau highlighted Sasol's significant role in building a new industrial economy, given its operations at the intersection of energy, chemicals, fuels, and advanced manufacturing. He pointed out opportunities such as unlocking giga-scale investment in renewable energy, mega-storage, High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission, and gas-to-power, particularly as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) becomes central to the country's industrial feedstock strategy post-2028.