French energy giant Total SA plans to boost oil exploration and open more fuel stations in Africa’s most industrialized country.
Total pumped a record amount of oil and gas in the first quarter and expects output growth to exceed its 6% target this year thanks to acquisitions and new projects from the Arctic to West Africa. In South Africa, the company plans to expand its network of more than 500 fuel stations and finish a deepwater exploration well started in 2014.
"In retail, we clearly want to grow and to grow by 200 to 300 service stations in the coming few years," Pierre-Yves Sachet, managing director and CEO for Total South Africa, said Thursday in an interview at his office in Johannesburg. "The intensity of our footprint is not exactly the one we would like to have yet."
Total, which is already due to open 20 new retail outlets this year, is considering partnerships to increase that number. It faces competition from South Africa’s Sasol Ltd., which is also looking to expand its fuel-station network in a country that currently has about 4,600 outlets.
Total is also interested in supplying liquefied natural gas and adding solar projects as part of two government programs that faced delays under former South African President Jacob Zuma. While there hasn’t yet been a marked change in demand and investment under Cyril Ramaphosa, who replaced Zuma in February, there is a difference in the business community, according to Sachet.
“There’s more confidence in the atmosphere, this is very clear," said Sachet, who sees growth in the company’s sales of fuel and lubricants to mining companies.
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