Fracking ‘could bring benefits’
Proper regulation, more research key, conference hears
THOUGH fracking in the Karoo may still be years from becoming a reality, academics, policymakers and even activists say this controversial process, if regulated properly, could make an important contribution to the country’s economy and energy mix.
This was the message throughout the first day of the shale gas conference held in the Bay by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology.
This two-day conference was designed to assess the readiness of the country to proceed with hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Karoo, as well as the risks.
However, according to two studies compiled and presented by panels of experts in various scientific fields, the country still has a long way to go before the Karoo’s natural resources may or may not be added to its energy offering.
“There is a 90% likelihood that we will start exploration, find nothing and close the project,” Professor Bob Scholes, from the University of the Witwatersrand, who acted as project leader for one of the studies, said. “We need to know if there are viable reserves of shale gas in the Karoo, and where and how large they are.
“Further research is also needed on the impacts [fracking could have] on biodiversity, as it would mean a fragmentation of the landscape and we don’t know how that disturbance would play out for different organisms.”
Scholes said the impact on water quality would be a “non-issue”, as water shortages were already a problem.
“Different water sources, such as deep underground saline water, will have to be used for fracking purposes, as we cannot [afford to] use or contaminate surface water.”
Scholes also highlighted that several benefits of fracking, including job creation and a reduced reliance on the coal industry, would not be as significant as it might seem.
“The advantage in terms of climate change is small to zero, and the number of low-skill jobs [for local communities] will be limited,” he said.
Professor Cyril O’Connor, chairman of the panel that conducted a study mandated by ASSAf, said a lot of data still needed to be collected.
“We would recommend public consulting processes [and] robust baseline studies.
“We are also dealing with a permanent skills crisis and fracking would only exacerbate this, and would [create a] need to import skills.”
Anti-fracking attorney Derek Light emphasised a lack of scientific knowledge about the process in general.
“I’m concerned for the environment, as well as a lack of knowledge and legislation,” Light said in an interview.
“If the benefits outweigh the negative impacts and fracking goes ahead, it should be in a regulated environment.”
The research and discussions from the conference will be compiled in a report to the government, so that it can inform policy going forward.
“We have most of the pieces of the puzzle to understand the intricacies of the issue, but we need time to put it together in a way that balances the economic development [benefits] with environmental protection,” Science and Technology directorgeneral Dr Phil Mjwara said.