Photo retrieved from: www.rainharvest.co.za
“South Africa’s Karoo, a vast arid wilderness, may contain gas reserves that could solve the country’s energy problems — but only through an extraction process called fracking that has greens seeing red.
The sprawling and ecologically sensitive region, home to rare species such as the mountain zebra and riverine rabbit, may hold vast deposits of natural gas in shale rock deep underground.
Once unobtainable, such reserves can now be exploited with new techniques and could serve as a badly needed energy source for Africa’s largest economy, which is heavily reliant on coal.
Petrochemicals group Sasol (SOLJ.J), Anglo American (AAL.L) and Falcon Oil and Gas (FO.V) are among those eyeing shale gas in the region, although oil giant Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) is leading the pack with exploration rights to 90,000 sq km (34,750 sq mile).
But farmers and conservationists are opposed to shale gas development in a parched region famed for its succulent lamb, big skies and rare plant and animal life.
Public concern focuses on hydraulic fracturing or “fracking”, in which drillers blast millions of litres of water, sand and chemicals at high pressure into underground rock to create cracks for gas and oil to escape.”
Read more: Reuters
This will contaminate all the surrounding water and kill animals much farther than ‘just’ the drilling boarders.
It makes WATER FLAMABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fracking is dangerous to our health, Fuel companies will Sell this gas to the USA. Who is funding all of this??? Give the people a choice in the matter.