This piece from TotalEnergies, a silver sponsor of the 2026 Fuels Industry Imbizo taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 10-11 June, outlines the contributions the company has made and continues to make to South Africa’s energy sector.
When TotalEnergies was founded on 11 December 1954, no one could have foreseen the critical role this company would play in strengthening South Africa’s economy. However, what was clear from the start was that this startup had an ambitious vision for expansion.
In less than a year after the first TotalEnergies service station sold its first gallon of petrol in March 1955, seven more service stations were completed in the Johannesburg and Pretoria regions. The commission of a Durban terminal in 1957 and the Cape Town terminal and branch in 1960 soon followed.
TotalEnergies and its partners are launching construction of a major hybrid renewables project in South Africa, comprising a 216 MW solar plant and a 500 MWh battery storage system to manage the intermittency of solar production.
Despite being a newly established business, the company’s leadership clearly articulated early on the importance of corporate social investment (CSI) to the company’s foundation. Some of these long-standing partnerships spanned decades and contributed to the prominence of vital economic sectors, such as agriculture, human development and clean energy solutions.
TotalEnergies’ innovative spirit and future-focused vision came to the fore from 1965 onwards. The company’s capabilities and presence started to span throughout the energy value chain, thereby supporting the development of the nation’s entire energy infrastructure.
The year 1971 was significant for both the company and the country, with the development of the NATREF refinery, South Africa’s only inland crude oil refinery, marking a pronounced step forward in local refinery capacity.
Simultaneously, TotalEnergies operations also evolved during these landmark years, becoming a fully integrated company with exploration, refining, storage, and distribution of a comprehensive range of petroleum products. Within the next decade, TotalEnergies opened a lubricating oil refinery in Durban, founded subsidiary companies in neighbouring territories, and saw the first coal export from the Ermelo Mines development.
Over the next twenty years, TotalEnergies continued its journey to advance South Africa’s progress. By adapting its strategic commitments to align with the country’s most pressing challenges, TotalEnergies could make a difference where it was needed most. This has enabled the company to evolve alongside South Africa’s economy and communities.
Captured in the ethos, ‘Better together’, advancing transformation is one of TotalEnergies’ top long-term priorities, both from within and outside of the company.
As an employer, TotalEnergies has received several industry recognitions for the company’s HR practices. An example of this is receiving the Top Employers certification for four consecutive years, highlighting the company’s commitment to fostering a positive work environment and supporting professional talent through career development.
At the heart of the company’s people strategy is advancing diversity and equity. In 2019, TotalEnergies proudly achieved a Level 1 B-BBEE status, reflecting its continued commitment to inclusive growth and social value creation.
Outside of the company, TotalEnergies has also supported enterprise development and community upliftment through several initiatives. One example is being the first industry leader to bring fuel service stations to previously disadvantaged areas and to prioritise local community involvement through its retail and distribution models.
Even though TotalEnergies has a strong global presence, the company’s long-standing commitment to South Africa’s development remains unchanged.
In fact, TotalEnergies’ dedication to the country has only deepened. To contribute to an energy-secure future for South Africa, TotalEnergies is developing a 700-MW portfolio of solar projects. This includes the Prieska solar power plant, which has been in operation since 2016, the Sasol-Air Liquide agreement to supply 260 MW of renewable energy capacity, and the construction of a 216 MW solar power plant with 500 MWh of battery storage.
After more than seven decades in South Africa, TotalEnergies looks forward to continuing its critical role in the country’s energy landscape. By supporting economic development, advancing transformation, and spearheading multi-energy solutions, these investments are strategically positioning a nation and its people for an energy-secure future.
https://totalenergies.com/south-africa
