Thibedi Ramontja said: “[In] December this year, to January next year, we intend to finalise consultations on regulations with affected communities.” He said it was necessary that government go back to communities to show what had been done — since imposing a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing and associated activities — to address their concerns.
There has been large opposition to fracking amid reports that there are considerable deposits of shale gas in the Karoo. Many people are concerned about the contamination of the region’s scarce water resources.
Ramontja said that after consultations with communities, the department would focus — over the period February to Junenext year — on re-processing applications to explore for shale gas. “Our intention is that by July-August next year, we will be issuing explorationlicences, beyond which the shale gas exploration shall duly commence.”
He said the new regulations, currently in draft form, would result in a regulatory framework that ensured a safer exploration and subsequent exploitation of gas resources. The exploration phase could span three to seven years. Conservative estimates put the amount of shale gas under the Karoo at between 18-trillion and 70-trillion cubic feet, welldown on initial estimates of about 485-trillion cubic feet.
About four to five companies had applied for exploration licences. These reportedly include Shell, Bundu Oil & Gas, and Falcon Oil & Gas.
