Govt’s new fracking regulations ‘outright nonsense’ - environmental institute
The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environmental Institute has labelled the new proposed fracking regulations from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment “outright nonsense”.
Minister Barbara Creecy recently published for consultation the proposed regulations pertaining to the exploration and production of onshore oil and gas requiring hydraulic fracturing.
The minister also published the intention to prescribe minimum requirements for the submission of applications for an authorisation, right, permit or licence for the onshore exploration of oil and gas intending to utilise hydraulic fracturing.
But SAFCEI claims the amended regulations give a false sense of security and expose the absence hydrogeological input.
Executive director Francesca di Gasparis says fracking has a negative impact on the South Africa water system.
“What fraction does it basically goes deep down in the ground to release gases that are stored underneath. The high-pressure that is used to release the gas underground raptures the ground water system and get it polluted by gases, and the shifting of the rocks.
“Fracking is a technology that is very dangerous in a country where there is water scarcity.”
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