No 'fracking confusion' in SA

2011-04-26 14:29

Cape Town - A lobby group opposed to hydraulic fracturing as a mining technique to extract shale gas has dismissed media reports that oil giant Shell's "fracking" application for the Karoo basin would continue to be heard.

The Cape Times reported on Tuesday a moratorium announced by Cabinet last week had no impact on existing applications for fracking licenses, and that it only affected new applications.

"It is absurd for anyone to suggest that Cabinet intended anything other than what is clearly described in the press release that was issued last Thursday," Treasure the Karoo Action Group (TKAG) national co-ordinator Jonathan Deal said in a statement.

Cabinet's press released said that Cabinet had, "endorsed the decision by the department of mineral [resources] to invoke a moratorium on licenses in the Karoo where fracking is proposed".

Statements attributed to a departmental spokesperson would serve only to rubbish the clear written directions from Cabinet, as described in their press release, Deal said.

Illogical

Dr Luke Havemann, specialist energy attorney and author of a critical review of the Shell environmental management plan, said it would be illogical for the moratorium to only apply to new applications and for the current applications before the regulator the Petroleum Agency of SA (Pasa) and the department to be considered and possibly approved.

It would be a foolish step to appoint a multi-disciplinary task team to delve into the issue of environmental degradation yet simultaneously allow for hydraulic fracturing to be authorised and undertaken, he said.

"Such an approach would not amount to a risk-averse and cautious approach and as such would constitute a breach of a cardinal principle of our environmental law.

"It follows that the relevant task team must complete a comprehensive assessment of the risks posed by fracking before any decision can be made in relation to any application for authorisation to conduct hydraulic fracturing, and therefore that the intention of Cabinet's vote is absolutely clear in putting a halt to fracking at this time," Havemann said.

- SAPA