The decision by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, to extend the deadline for public comment on proposed environmental regulations governing commercial fracking to 13 February has spurred environmentalists to action.
Fracking, or “fracing,” is a technique used to extract natural resources by fracturing bedrock deep underground using pressurised water. The process is highly controversial due to its environmental impact, particularly the vast amounts of water it requires. This can disrupt local water supplies and irreversibly alter surrounding ecosystems.
Fracking has long been viewed as a potential investment opportunity by the Department of Petroleum and Natural Resources, with Minister Gwede Mantashe consistently backing natural gas exploration, particularly shale gas deposits in the Karoo.
Speaking to VOC News, Neville van Rooy, community outreach coordinator at The Green Connection based in the Karoo, highlighted the ecological damage fracking could inflict on the region. He stressed that the Karoo, already a semi-arid environment, cannot be sustained in a scenario where fracking becomes widespread.
“We, the people of the Karoo, remain deeply concerned about the development of fracking in our area. The Karoo is water-scarce, and fracking is both water-intensive and a dirty fossil fuel that worsens climate change. We believe the moratorium should not be lifted, and we will mobilise resistance movements across the Karoo and the country to develop a unified stance against this concerning decision,” said van Rooy.
Photo: Pixabay
