South Africa's Vice President David Mabuza announced Thursday in parliament that Pretoria has reached an agreement to import gas from Mozambique to ease the country's energy problems.

"The discussions between our Minister of Mineral Resources [Gwede Mantashe] and Mozambique are quite advanced in terms of the gas we should transport from Mozambique into the country. I can safely say that we have reached an agreement," David Mabuza said, without giving details, in response to an opposition MP.

According to Rádio Moçambique, at the briefing, the South African leader also pointed out that the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy estimates to add about 8,000 MW (megawatts) of "clean energy" to the grid in the next two to five years.

"This is a combination of renewable energy and gas projects, as well as the repowering of existing coal plants," he said.

The South African vice president noted in parliament that 99% of South Africa's electricity supply is derived from coal, and that 30% of liquid fuels are also derived from coal, the country's main energy source.