Fracking: A dragon South Africa will not be able to tame
20 July 2022
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment has released proposed regulations for onshore oil and gas exploration and production, including the use of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”).
“AfriForum is surprised that the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs, Barbara Creecy, announced these types of regulations when she knows that there is already a ban on fracking in several countries. This is completely contrary to the role of her department, which is supposed to protect the environment in South Africa,” says Lambert de Klerk, AfriForum’s Manager of Environmental Affairs.
“The scale and magnitude of drilling and fracking operations have proven to be beyond the grasp of established oil and gas producing countries and states, such as the United States of America, where air pollution and drilling incidents, including the contamination of water resources, have continuously been recorded, posing a public health risk,” says Jonathan Deal, CEO of Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG) in response to the proposed regulations.
De Klerk says that AfriForum and its long-standing environmental partner, TKAG would continue their opposition to shale gas drilling in South Africa. “AfriForum has since the publication of the new regulations instructed our legal team to start preparing for the public participation process regarding the regulations.”