SA set to allow shale gas exploration to proceed
Mining Weeklyreports that the South African government has formally launched a R12.5-million, 24-month strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of shale gas mining in the Karoo in an effort to understand the potential environmental risks of exploiting probable, but as yet unexplored, unconventional gas resources in the water-stressed territory. However, it has also indicated that it plans to allow energy companies to conduct parallel exploration activities, with the Department of Mineral Resources set to seek Cabinet approval imminently for supportive regulations.