Regulations almost ready

REGULATIONS for shale gas exploration, or fracking, in the Karoo are almost finalised, the cabinet has announced.

Ministers in the cabinet's cluster on economic sectors, employment and infrastructure development – which is chaired by Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel – yesterday briefed the parliamentary press corps on a range of issues, including progress on the exploration of shale gas.

Another cluster member, Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, said an interministerial committee led by Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu was on the verge of finalising the regulations.

Molewa was adamant the concerns by environmentalists would be taken on board, and stressed the difference between exploration of shale gas (which the government has agreed to in principle) and exploitation of it (which the government has not agreed to).

Transport Minister Dipuo Peters was even more upbeat about the role of shale gas in the future.

"We are on the verge of the golden age of gas. This is a game-changer," she said. "We are not looking away from the environmental issues. We must find a way for the concerns and interests to co-exist.

"We will communicate the decisions soon," Peters said. - Jan-Jan Joubert