Plans to roll out hydraulic fracturing or fracking, as it's more commonly known, in the Karoo have been halted. The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in favour of an application brought by AfriForum and the Treasure Karoo Action Group on Thursday. The court ruled that the ministers of Mineral Resources and Environmental Affairs do not have the authority to implement the … [Read more...]
Fracking directly linked to earthquakes for the first time
Geologists in Columbus, Ohio, have for the first time linked earthquakes in a geologic formation deep under the Appalachians to hydraulic fracturing, leading the state to issue new permit conditions Friday in certain areas that are among the nation's strictest. A state investigation of five small tremors last month in the Youngstown area, in the Appalachian foothills, found … [Read more...]
Fracking should be banned everywhere
Hydraulic Fracturing, commonly known as Fracking, is a highly controversial method of extracting oil and gas from existing, redundant and new wells. Drilling has begun in an unregulated frenzy from USA, China and now heading for gas-rich Europe and other countries around the world. The environment and human health is at very serious and potential risk if this method of … [Read more...]
Cape Town up in arms about fracking plans
'Now is the time for change! We cannot drill our way out of an energy crisis! The age of fossil fuels is over! Shell, we do not want our Karoo to be another Niger Delta,' a brave speaker addressed Shell with a referral to the egregious exploitation of Nigeria's oil reserves by multinationals such as Shell. 'Use your voices my friends; blog, tweet, Facebook and rally your … [Read more...]
Shabangu extends fracking moratorium
Mining Minister Susan Shabangu has extended a moratorium on prospecting for shale gas for a further six months, to allow time for public consultation on the matter. The extension would be published in the Government Gazette, she told journalists at the end of a Cape Town Press Club breakfast function. Shabangu said her department had to "engage with the public" on the … [Read more...]
