DEDEAT and NMMU hold intergovernmental shale gas dialogue
The Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) held a dialogue on shale gas today (11 March 2014) that brought together government, academics and state-owned enterprises to discuss critical issues associated with the exploration and possible exploitation of shale gas.
Hosted by Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism MEC Mcebisi Jonas, the dialogue follows the signing of an agreement between the department and university on a R16 million research project that will conduct a technical evaluation and socio-economic analysis of shale gas in the Eastern Cape.
The dialogue takes place against the background of a recent statement by Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa that the regulations for shale gas exploration were now being "consolidated" and that the next issue to be tackled was "who will do the exploration".
DEDEAT points out that the economic benefits from commercial gas exploitation from deeply buried shale in the Karoo could be a "game-changer" for the Eastern Cape.
At the same time, however, serious concerns have been raised among community stakeholders surrounding the environmental impact of mining what is a relatively new energy resource.
Conservative to optimistic estimates of the recoverable gas range between 20 and 485 trillion cubic feet with a potential return of between 1-20 trillion Rand as well as undetermined savings in carbon taxes.
The department notes that what is currently absent from the debate is scientific knowledge on fundamental issues in both the scientific and social spheres about "key bottom line issues".
Project co-leader Professor Maarten de Wit, who heads NMMU's Earth Stewardship Science Research Institute points out that whether one is for or against the exploitations of share gas "it is critical to find out more about the characteristics of South Africa's shale gas resource and conduct a risk-analysis on its extraction".
The study, Prof de Wit says, will determine "how much gas there is; how much can be potentially extracted; how the exploitation of gas will affect natural resources such as water and eco-system services, and whether there will be positive socio-economic spin-offs".
Importantly, he stresses, the Karoo is "one of the few major basins in the world where you can still develop a natural baseline. All the other major basins in the world, in the United States, Europe and China, have been drilled for oil and/or gas and suffered severe distortions of their natural plays".
DEDEAT says the study will provide advice to the provincial government on a regular basis on scientific and socio-economic findings and "deliver a unique and independent set of cutting-edge data to inform regional and national planning.
"The project will also provide provincial government with an independent scientific monitoring capability to generate information to frame its policy and strategic approaches to this massive economic development resource."
In addition, it will allow provincial government to engage with industry in "a constructive and coordinated manner" and also chart the role to be played by communities in monitoring exploratory activities in what Prof de Wit describes as the development of "citizen science"
For enquiries, please contact:
DEDEAT Communications Unit
Mr Sixolile Makaula
Communications Manager
E-mail: sixolile.makaula@deaet.ecape.gov.za
Tel: 043 605 7117
Cell: 072 751 5001
NMMU Communications Unit
Roslyn Baatjies
Media Liaison Practitioner
Marketing & Corporate Relations
E-mail: roslyn.baatjies@nmmu.ac.za
Tel: +27 (0)41 504 2777
Cell: 082 771 2100
