South Africa needs a shale gas research plan aligned to government policy and included into the broader government research program driven by various departments and agencies, according to federal agencies.
Phil Mjwara, Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), told delegates at a conference on shale gas under way in Port Elizabeth in August, that the research plan could help develop expertise related to shale gas exploitation in South Africa.
The objective of the conference, titled “The Shale Gas Industry in South Africa: Toward a Science Action Plan,” was to highlight critical reports on shale gas in South Africa, analyze the regulatory environment, consolidate common findings and recommendations, and provide a platform for debate.
“Some of the objectives of the plan should be to develop national technical capabilities in key focal areas, including pure science, engineering, and social science associated with shale gas exploitation,” Mjwara said.
He added that international experience has shown that shale gas has numerous economic benefits. He pointed out that any scientific plan on shale gas must strike a healthy balance between environmental protection and economic benefit.
The two-day conference, hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in partnership with the DST, followed the publication of ASSAf’s report on South Africa’s Technical Readiness to Support the Shale Gas Industry, and the Department of Environmental Affairs’ report on Shale Gas Development in the Central Karoo: A Scientific Assessment of the Opportunities and Risks.
Cyril O’Connor, from the University of Cape Town, head of the panel of experts for the ASSAf study, said that the amount of shale gas available in South Africa was still unclear, with estimates ranging between 20 trillion cubic feet (tcf) and over 400 tcf. It is thought that substantial volumes of such gas shales can be found in the main Karoo Basin.
He said that since shale gas exploitation requires the use of relatively large quantities of water, greater clarity is needed on the availability of alternative water sources such as underground saltwater.
Furthermore, South Africa is known to possess considerable reserves of shale gas and oil reserves in the Western, Northern, and Eastern Cape rock basin. ASSAf’s Vice President, Barney Pityana, said, “This is because of the geology of the area, and the possibilities of economically available and advanced extractive technology mean that this industry is capable of development. It could provide a game changer for the South African economy, and could make a major contribution to South Africa’s commitments in terms of climate change by limiting South Africa’s reliance on the coal industry for its energy needs.”
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South Africa needs a shale gas research plan aligned to government policy and included into the broader government research program driven by various departments and agencies, according to federal agencies.
Phil Mjwara, Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), told delegates at a conference on shale gas under way in Port Elizabeth in August, that the research plan could help develop expertise related to shale gas exploitation in South Africa.
The objective of the conference, titled “The Shale Gas Industry in South Africa: Toward a Science Action Plan,” was to highlight critical reports on shale gas in South Africa, analyze the regulatory environment, consolidate common findings and recommendations, and provide a platform for debate.
“Some of the objectives of the plan should be to develop national technical capabilities in key focal areas, including pure science, engineering, and social science associated with shale gas exploitation,” Mjwara said.
He added that international experience has shown that shale gas has numerous economic benefits. He pointed out that any scientific plan on shale gas must strike a healthy balance between environmental protection and economic benefit.
The two-day conference, hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in partnership with the DST, followed the publication of ASSAf’s report on South Africa’s Technical Readiness to Support the Shale Gas Industry, and the Department of Environmental Affairs’ report on Shale Gas Development in the Central Karoo: A Scientific Assessment of the Opportunities and Risks.
Cyril O’Connor, from the University of Cape Town, head of the panel of experts for the ASSAf study, said that the amount of shale gas available in South Africa was still unclear, with estimates ranging between 20 trillion cubic feet (tcf) and over 400 tcf. It is thought that substantial volumes of such gas shales can be found in the main Karoo Basin.
He said that since shale gas exploitation requires the use of relatively large quantities of water, greater clarity is needed on the availability of alternative water sources such as underground saltwater.
Furthermore, South Africa is known to possess considerable reserves of shale gas and oil reserves in the Western, Northern, and Eastern Cape rock basin. ASSAf’s Vice President, Barney Pityana, said, “This is because of the geology of the area, and the possibilities of economically available and advanced extractive technology mean that this industry is capable of development. It could provide a game changer for the South African economy, and could make a major contribution to South Africa’s commitments in terms of climate change by limiting South Africa’s reliance on the coal industry for its energy needs.”