The Karoo landscape, a water-scarce area near potential shale gas sites.
Photo courtesy Surina Esterhuyse
New regulations for protecting water resources during oil exploration are inadequate and should be reviewed.
There are concerns about the negative environmental and social impact of fracking in the Karoo.
Martin Heigan/Flickr
It is extremely important to monitor local seismic activity before fracking starts to avoid causing harm.
Drilling for water in the Karoo where one major concern from fracking is that groundwater will be affected in the shale gas extraction process.
Danita Hohne
A vulnerability map could help assess the risks associated with fracking and groundwater which around 300 towns depend on in South Africa’s Karoo.
There are indications shale gas may be present in South Africa’s Karoo.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
South Africa’s Karoo region potentially holds shale gas that could transform the energy economy of the country. But given the uncertainties around exploration what’s the next logical step?
South Africa’s Karoo has shale gas and could be the location for fracking exploration.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
South Africa has been considering shale gas development in the Karoo region. The gas, will be expensive to explore and extract, will be used as part of the country’s energy mix.
South Africa’s Karoo region, in the south west of the country, is thought to have significant reserves of shale gas.
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Shale gas holds considerable advantages. But there are still a number of uncertainties around whether South Africa is ready for such a bold step.