Karoo Fracking Update

Where do we stand at the moment?

>> For an update as of September 13th, click here.

Last week Tuesday Shell submitted its Environmental Management Plan to PASA (the agency responsible for advising on whether to grant Shell's applicaiton or not). Although Derek Light Attorneys have criticised the plan as biased and misleading, the CEO of PASA has indicated that it was 'likely' Shell's application would be approved.

PASA now has 120 days to review Shell's documents before making a set of reccomendations to Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu on whether to grant exploration rights to Shell. She is expected to make a decision in August.

Meanwhile the Minister of Environment and Water Affairs, Edna Molewa, has also weighed in on the issue, saying that if it was found that 'fracking' would having a negative impact on the Karoo's water reserves, the application would have to be refused.

As the Minster of this deparment, Molewa will be expected to play the role of referee, feeding into whether the exploration licences are ultiamtely approved or not.

Greenpeace sees Shale gas exploitation and 'fracking' as invasive and unsustainable. Exploration of shale gas should be put on hold until the environmental impacts can be resolved and fully understood. Rather than wasting time and money on another potential dead end, while jeopardising our scarce water resources and the Karoo ecosystems, we should focus on truly clean, renewable energy solutions.

There are three things you can do right now:

1. Email the Minister of Mineral Resources

You can now also email Susan Shabangu, Minister Mineral Resources. As she is the final one to make the call on Shell's applicaiton, you can send her an email, asking that Shell's application be denied.

We have prepared a sample email that you can use as your starting point. Simply copy and paste the text below into an email, and send it to the relevant body. We have also included the email addresses you'll need, and a suggested subject line, in the text boxe below.

[TO: Ms Susan Shabangu, Minister of Mineral Resources, c/o <img class="obfimg Eoi_1" src="/9650/20200331211609im_/http://p3-raw.greenpeace.org/africa/Templates/Planet3/Styles/Images/emailimages/2d6d7c768af7f1eb392f01299cdc788b.png" alt=""/><script type="text/javascript"><!-- document.write(dc('Eoi_1', '50_31_2A_7E_26_3F_37_7E_22_3D_34_10_31_38_23_39_34_31_1D_7E_3F_3C_35_36_3F_3C_3F_38_1B'));//--></script>] [Subject: No shale gas fracking in the Karoo] Dear Ms Shabangu Shell is currently applying for shale gas exploration licences in the Karoo, but the extraction of shale gas poses massive threats to both ground and surface water and is very water intensive. In fact, the environmental impacts of shale gas fracking are so bad, that it should not even be considered at this stage. The announcement of Shell’s intention to pursue shale gas fracking in this area has been followed by huge opposition from local communities in the Karoo and the rest of South Africa. Shale gas exploitation is invasive and completely unsustainable, and I believe that the exploration of shale gas should be put on hold until (or if) the massive environmental impacts can be resolved. On these grounds, I urge you to apply the precautionary principle, and deny Shell’s application for exploration licences in the fragile and important ecosystem of the Karoo. Sincerely, [Insert your name]

2. Email PASA and the Department of water and Environmental affairs

If you haven't already, you can email PASA and the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs. Click here. This has been one of the most the popular pages on this site to date, with over a thousand emails having been sent already!

3. Add your name to the online petition

The 'Treasure the Karoo Action Group' is running an online petition, which you can sign below: