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July deadline for Shell “fracking” decision
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PDF Energy minister, Dipuo Peters, says her department will make a decision on planned shale gas exploration plans in the Karoo by Shell, after July.
Peters revealed that she will only make a decision on prospecting plans – also known as fracking - once the task team report is handed over to her at the end of July.
“I am pleased that Cabinet has endorsed our earlier and correct decision to impose a moratorium on shale gas exploration in the Karoo. I have since appointed a task team of senior government officials led by my department to conduct further research including looking at international experience, in order better to inform our policy and approach on this matter,” Peters revealed.
Planned exploration of the Karoo by Shell has been met by outrage. While many have objected to it due to environmental concerns – government intervened as it could have negatively impacted on its bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.
Science and Technology minister, Naledi Pandor, previously dismissed any concerns saying the application for prospecting would only have an impact on the SKA bid if it was granted. She noted that if Shell’s application is granted and the company uses communication systems with frequency ranges that interfere with radio telescope operations - then prospecting will affect radio astronomy.
South Africa is in the final stages of its bid to host the multi-billion rand satellite project. In 2006, the country was shortlisted along with Australia as locations for the SKA project. An announcement on the final decision is expected in early 2012.
The SKA will cost about €2-billion to build and will require between €150-million and €200-million a year, for 50 years, to maintain and operate.
Fracking is a technique for extracting shale gas from deep underground by pumping a pressurised mixture of water, sand and chemicals down drill holes.
