https://en.sputniknews.africa/20251107/is-shale-gas-the-key-to-revolutionizing-south-africas-energy-security-1080276494.html
Is Shale Gas the Key to Revolutionizing South Africa's Energy Security?
Is Shale Gas the Key to Revolutionizing South Africa's Energy Security?
Sputnik Africa
In 2011, a moratorium barred regulators from accepting new applications for shale gas reconnaissance, exploration, and production permits, following public... 07.11.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-11-07T15:53+0100
2025-11-07T15:53+0100
2025-11-07T15:53+0100
african currents
podcasts
sputnik africa
africa
south africa
north africa
east africa
west africa
southern africa
central africa
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e9/0b/07/1080278750_0:88:400:313_1920x0_80_0_0_932bd528cf31102835e3c81a879a7e30.jpg
Is Shale Gas the Key to Revolutionizing South Africa's Energy Security?
Sputnik Africa
In 2011, a moratorium barred regulators from accepting new applications for shale gas reconnaissance, exploration, and production permits, following public protests and lawsuits by environmental groups concerned about fracking in the fragile Karoo region.
South Africa's Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, announced last October that new regulations, to be published later this month, will set safety and environmental standards for hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo region. The government intends to reopen shale gas development to boost energy security and attract investment. Studies suggest the Karoo could hold between 13 and 209 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas, though estimates vary widely. To understand the motivations behind the policy shift and its broader implications, African Currents spoke with Marisa Lourenço, a political analyst and risk consultant based in South Africa.Want to hear more from our guest? Catch the full conversation on the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.You’ll find our episodes not just on the website, but also on Telegram.► You can also stream our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents.
africa
south africa
north africa
east africa
west africa
southern africa
central africa
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2025
Chimauchem Nwosu
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/06/0b/1066992175_0:0:278:278_100x100_80_0_0_b5f6eaa3b85dbfcd0266ea860848a996.jpg
Chimauchem Nwosu
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/06/0b/1066992175_0:0:278:278_100x100_80_0_0_b5f6eaa3b85dbfcd0266ea860848a996.jpg
News
en_EN
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Chimauchem Nwosu
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/06/0b/1066992175_0:0:278:278_100x100_80_0_0_b5f6eaa3b85dbfcd0266ea860848a996.jpg
podcasts, sputnik africa, africa, south africa, north africa, east africa, west africa, southern africa, central africa, liquefied natural gas (lng), gas, energy, energy crisis, nuclear energy, аудио
podcasts, sputnik africa, africa, south africa, north africa, east africa, west africa, southern africa, central africa, liquefied natural gas (lng), gas, energy, energy crisis, nuclear energy, аудио
Is Shale Gas the Key to Revolutionizing South Africa's Energy Security?
In 2011, a moratorium barred regulators from accepting new applications for shale gas reconnaissance, exploration, and production permits, following public protests and lawsuits by environmental groups concerned about fracking in the fragile Karoo region.
South Africa's Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, announced last October that new regulations, to be published later this month, will set safety and environmental standards for hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo region. The government intends to reopen shale gas development to boost energy security and attract investment. Studies suggest the Karoo could hold between 13 and 209 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas, though estimates vary widely.
To understand the motivations behind the policy shift and its broader implications, African Currents spoke with Marisa Lourenço, a political analyst and risk consultant based in South Africa.
"Basically the government is not really saying that exploration of shale gas is possible or it is a sector that is going to take off. So, it's a move that has definitely grabbed headlines. But if you start to peek behind the curtain, what we're really seeing is that the government is saying that it's taken into account a lot of the risks that were raised that led the moratorium to be put into place. It's taken those into account. It's worked with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment to say that it's got a better regulatory framework in place now. And that's what it's going to publish so that we can move forward with exploring the possibility of adding shale gas to the mix [...]. But this definitely is an indication of what the government is thinking and how it sees gas playing a much bigger role in the country's energy mix in the next few decades to come," Lourenço noted.
Want to hear more from our guest? Catch the full conversation on the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
You’ll find our episodes not just on the website, but also on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents. 
