An environmental political perspective on hydraulic fracturing and the potential implications for South Africa

Abstract

Modern environmental awareness shows that nothing in its natural form can exist on its own. This means that all living things on earth are somehow connected by a symbiotic relationship (known or unknown). It is said that this relationship is what allows for the survival of the planet as a whole. One of the problems that the earth faces, though, is that this interconnected relationship between humans and earth is severely under threat, mainly caused by pollution and mass consumption. From an environmental political perspective, the effects of pollution and mass consumption threaten the availability of natural resources. In short, humans need to remember that they are not merely “in charge” of the earth, but it is their moral responsibility to protect the earth. From the environmental perspective it is important to conserve and sustain scarce resources, as well as find ways to safely harness them for energy. For democratic governments, who are mandated to provide safe and secure living environments to citizens as per their constitutions, the conflict between socio-economic development and protection of the environment, as well as the rights of citizens, has caused ongoing debate on the issue for the past several decades. Energy is vitally important for the development and survival of humankind. It has been the driving force behind humanity’s development and sustainability for many years. For thousands of years, natural resources have been harnessed specifically for this purpose, using the sun as a source of energy, to newer resources such as coal and gas in the 21st century. There is a worldwide call for cleaner energy sources that are not only healthier for the environment but also renewable. The South African government’s response to this call and a more sustainable energy sector is to, amongst various energy options, explore hydraulic fracturing whereby natural gas is extracted from the earth’s layers, making it renewable and convertible to energy. Hydraulic fracturing is not a new method of gas mining, as it dates back a few decades. The biggest concern right now is that hydraulic fracturing can have a negative impact on the environment. The effects of fracking can be detrimental to underground and surface water sources. In this research it is argued that hydraulic fracturing, whilst economically viable for South Africa, can potentially cause huge environmental damage to the ecosystem in the Karoo, the primary area earmarked for shale gas exploration in South Africa. The Karoo is not only very poor financially, it is also an arid area with scarce water sources. This is of concern because the practice of hydraulic fracturing utilizes mass quantities of water. Being an arid area, mainly known for its agriculture, it’s farming future relies on any and all water sources in the area. Not only does the fracking process use millions of litres of water, there is also the concern of pollution. The fracking fluid, which is used in the process, can seep into healthy water resources. This is of dire concern because the waste water contains many chemicals that are harmful and may even be deadly to human beings and animals. The contribution of this study, based mainly on data collected from fracking experiences in the USA, centres on the acknowledgement that the South African government needs to weigh all the advantages and disadvantages before allowing the fracking process to be implemented. Exploration licences have already been granted but with moratoriums issued, this process has been halted. The focus of the study is that with these moratoriums the government can embark on thorough studies as to the effects of hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo. Emphasis is also placed on Government policy concerning the management of the delicate balance between environmental protection and socio-economic development, and forms an integral part of the study. Through this analysis it was possible to put recommendations together as to why the hydraulic fracturing process needs to be explored some more before it can be implemented. In conclusion, the view taken by the researcher is that the South African government should, in addition to fracking, look at other sources of energy that are truly renewable and cleaner for the environment and improvement of the South African people. To this end, the recommendation is made to link into the international trend for abyssal or deep-sea gas mining as a safer and more viable option to fracking on land, as well as wind and solar energy production.