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DA urges Shell to can gas search

Cape Town - A controversial application by oil giant Shell to explore for gas in parts of the Karoo should be put on hold, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday.

"The proposal by Shell to explore for gas over 90 000 square kilometres of the south-western Karoo Basin is wholly premature and should not be entertained by Petroleum Agency South Africa (Pasa)," DA water and environmental affairs spokesperson Gareth Morgan said.
 
The DA was particularly concerned about a process of hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking", which uses immense amounts of water and has the potential to contaminate surrounding bodies of water with pollutants.

"The process is highly controversial and has been banned in several areas in the United States," said Morgan.

"The precautionary principle has to apply when considering any proposal that involves fracking, and for the moment we simply do not know enough about the deep geology of the Karoo, nor is it evident how the already water-stressed Karoo could provide the water for this thirsty activity," he said.

"The DA believes that there should be a moratorium on any exploration or mining activity that involves fracking."

Morgan said he had written to Pasa CEO Mthozami Xiphu asking him not to consider Shell's application, or any further applications, until a peer-reviewed study into the geology of the Karoo Basin, and an independent assessment of available water resources, had been undertaken.

Shell is compiling an environmental management plan.

"After this, Pasa will consider whether to grant an exploration right for three years, which can be extended for up to six more years thereafter," Morgan said.
 
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