July deadline for Shell “fracking” decision

June 8, 2011 12:28 pm 0 comments

Share this Article

Author:

Tags:

pf print icon July deadline for Shell fracking decision Print pf pdf icon July deadline for Shell fracking decision 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.

Talkback - Tell Us What You Think


Other News

  • Internet

    DOC hosts internet governance talks

    Print PDF

    Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: The two day Internet governance forum hosted by the Department of Communications (DOC) is set to kick off today.   The South African Internet Governance Forum (ZAIGF), aims to formulate a local position on global internet governance. South Africa, through the DoC has adopted the Geneva Action Plan and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society which was endorsed by the heads of states. The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was established in [...]

    Read more →
  • Mobile

    Vodacom cuts prepaid data prices

    Print PDF

    Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Following data price reductions for contract customers several weeks ago, Vodacom has now announced cuts in data prices for its prepaid customers. Effective 19 September 2011, customers buying MyMeg 100 will pay 39% less, with the price per MB reduced from 80c (for the previous MyMeg 110) to 49c. “Internet access isn’t just a nice to have; it’s an essential part of modern life. With these data price reductions, more customers than [...]

    Read more →
  • Opinion

    Another superhero in this Instant-On world

    Print PDF

    Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Having been in the IT management space for the past 18 years, I have seen a dramatic change in what is expected from IT. I guess we all have. It reminds me of the song by Bob Dylan, “Things they are chang’in”. Having met three customer CIOs last week, the discussion was very similar with all of them. IT has to provide more innovation and get closer to business, while driving down [...]

    Read more →
  • Opinion

    The growth of BPM in SA

    Print PDF

    Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Although the concept of business process management through a corporate lens is not a new one, it is an approach which is continuously fine-tuned and updated to suit the exponential rush of new technologies that are being brought to market each year. The method of aligning business processes in favour of greater efficiency and organisational effectiveness is persistently being affected by the ebb and flow of international technology tides. As a result [...]

    Read more →
  • Featured Internet

    Dinaledi schools go online

    Following years of delay, the Department of Communications (DOC) has revealed that its e-connectivity programme for 125 Dinaledi schools and 1525 district schools is underway.

    While the DOC failed to connect 250 schools in the 2008/09 financial year - it has now finalised MoUs and User Requirement Specifications as it looks to make a start on the initiative.

    Following a meeting of government’s Infrastructure cluster, the DOC noted that the implementation of its e-connectivity programme for schools had kicked off.

    In 2008, the department revealed plans to provide 250 schools with ICT connectivity in the 2008/09 financial year – but failed to connect any schools.

    Read more →
  • Mobile

    8ta shakes up prepaid market

    8.ta has introduced a new offer with low broadband rates for prepaid users.

    Following the introduction of its 10GB contract data bundle promotion, the mobile operator is now looking to shake up the prepaid market.

    8.ta is offering a 3GB pre-paid data bundle promotion at R149, which consists of 2GB anytime data and 1GB Midnight Surfer data for use between 12am and 5am. Users will basically be paying 5 cents per MB.

    Managing executive of Telkom Mobile, Amith Maharaj, said 8.ta has responded to the need for an aggressively priced pre-paid data bundle.

    Read more →
  • Internet

    Buy car insurance online

    Print PDF

    Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Consumers can now quote, buy and manage car insurance online with the introduction of dotsure.co.za - the country’s first e-commerce portal for car insurance. Encouraged by trends in countries such as the US, UK and Australia – where approximately 80% of car insurance is done online – the company seized the market opportunity not yet filled locally. While there are some local aggregators which provide quoting and premium comparison facilities, South Africans [...]

    Read more →
  • Opinion

    Outsourcing as a step towards IT as a utility

    Print PDF

    Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Cloud computing is the IT buzz phrase of the moment and, if one cuts through the profusion of definitions of what Cloud computing actually is, it boils down to IT as a utility – a pay per use approach akin to other utilities such as electricity and telephones. Best guesses by IT gurus, however, are that the end game of IT as a utility is some five to ten years away and [...]

    Read more →
  • Featured Mobile

    MobileTV wraps up technical trials

    MobileTV says it has completed the technical tests of its Korean Digital Media Broadcasting (DMB) technology, successfully and before schedule.

    According to founder and chairman, Mothobi Mutloatse, the company submitted its technical report and an initial request to formalise its application for a permanent commercial licence.

    “We are more than ready to roll out the ubiquitous media revolution called DMB - within two months of licensing - that is

    surely to introduce innovations of an interactive nature in both television and radio services never experienced on this massive scale in SA, turning the whole print and electronic media and advertising sectors alike on their heads,” said Mutloatse.

    Read more →
  • Mobile

    FNB Pay Wallet users on the rise

    Print PDF

    Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: FNB says its Pay Wallet solution has been used to pay over R42 million to more than 19 000 people since its introduction in July 2010. Pay Wallet is a solution that enables FNB corporate, commercial and public sector clients to electronically pay their employees directly to their cellphones or into a debit card. The recipients are then able to access their money immediately at any full service FNB ATM, with or [...]

    Read more →
  • « Previous Page  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   Next Page »
Feedback

SA IT NEWS Feedback

We appreciate any and all feedback about our site; praise, ideas, bug reports you name it!