The nature of public participation in the decision to implement shale gas mining : a case study of the Karoo Basin.
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Abstract
Since 2008 the African National Congress has been making preparations to legalise
Shale Gas Mining in South Africa. Shale Gas Mining and its single process of
unconventional oil/gas extraction called fracking, has sparked immense controversy
both locally and internationally. This has made fracking and Shale Gas Mining a
highly politicised topic. Due to uncertainties of the sustainability of fracking, which is
evident in factors such as the lack of scientific evidence, and public opposition, states
such as France and Bulgaria, have banned fracking. Currently the USA, Canada,
Argentina and China are the four major countries in the world that are fracking for
unconventional shale gas and oil at commercial levels. Opponents of fracking and
SGM emphasise its long term negative socio-economic and environmental
consequences. Proponents of fracking and SGM promote it on the basis that it
harnesses the potential to bring economic growth and energy security. Further
exacerbating the contentious nature of the fracking debate is the lack of
accountability, transparency and good governance regarding its proposed
implementation around the world including South Africa. The South African
Constitution affords all its citizens the right to participate in political decisionmaking.
This research interrogates the nature of public participation in the African
National Congresses decision to legalise Shale Gas Mining in the iconic landscape of
the Karoo basin. This research employs desktop study aided by 90 journal articles, 40
electronic pdf documents, 71 websites, 19 books, 6 online videos comprised of
fracking documentaries news reports, 4 government publications and 2 conference
papers. Findings from this study reveal a prevalent lack of transparency and a lack of
genuine public consultation and public involvement by South Africa’s national
government regarding the proposed implementation of shale gas mining and fracking.
Although public consultations had been conducted by Shell falcon and Bundu as is
required by the National Environmental Management Act, October 2014 saw the first
public consultations initiated by the South African government – over five years after
fracking was proposed.
Description
M.A. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2015.
Keywords
Shale gas reservoirs -- South Africa., Shale gas industry -- Environmental aspects., Shale gas industry -- South Africa -- Public opinion., Theses -- Political science.