South Africa inches towards shale exploration in the Karoo basin
Large reserves in the Karoo basin are bringing upstream interest, but many barriers stand in the way of production
The South African government expects to issue exploration permits for shale-gas reserves in the first quarter of 2014 once regulations on exploration and hydraulic fracturing are approved. The government has been enthusiastic about the prospects of shale gas despite the obstacles to exploring and exploiting the remote and environmentally sensitive Karoo Basin. In October 2013, Susan Shabangu, the minister for mineral resources, signalled South Africa’s determination to pursue exploration of its unconventional resource. “Not only does the potential of shale-gas exploration and exploitation provide an opportunity for us to begin production of our own fuel, but it also marks the beginning of th
Also in this section
13 March 2026
Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs
12 March 2026
Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword
12 March 2026
LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth
11 March 2026
Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy
