The South African government faces fresh opposition against plans to unlock trapped resources using the controversial fracking technique.
The government’s previous moratorium placed on shale gas exploration expired in September 2012. Since then it has published proposed regulations for hydraulic fracturing, which could recover as much as 390 trillion cubic feet of resources in Karoo.
However, South African environmental group, The Treasure Karoo Action Group, named after the semi-desert area of South Africa, ramped up its bid to see the moratorium reinstated. The group, which launched its offensive in Johannesburg today, said fracking exploration would damage water quality.
However, Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said the opportunity to recover the region’s shale gas can’t be missed.
The minister added: “Our government has adopted a cautious and responsible approach that seeks to understand the risks to the environment posed by fracking.”
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