Cape Town - The DA should react as strongly to the possibility of fracking as it did to e-tolling in Gauteng, the Treasure the Karoo Action Group (TKAG) said on Friday.
“The ANC does not respond to words such as 'hopeful' and 'hopefully' Äwe would have expected a reaction perhaps closer to the DA's public opposition to e-tolling on a matter that will become an election campaign issue,” AfriForum environment head Julius Kleynhans, who is part of the TKAG, said.
The Democratic Alliance's failure to oppose the “unconstitutional conduct” of the ANC Cabinet was “weak”.
His comments followed the gazetting of technical regulations on petroleum exploration and exploitation, which included shale gas, on Thursday.
DA MP James Lorimer said at the time that for fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, to go ahead, it had to be in line with a charter offering stringent control measures and penalties for transgressions.
“The DA will fully scrutinise these regulations with the hopes they will contain an adequate balance between what is right for the environment and what is right for thousands of unemployed people who could benefit from fracking,” he said.
Kleynhans encouraged the DA to do comprehensive research.
“We need to ensure sustainable development and regulation enforcement in our country,” he said.
Fracking is the process of fracturing rock by pumping pressurised liquid deep into the ground to extract natural gas trapped in shale layers.
Shabangu said on Thursday the proposed regulations prescribed good international petroleum industry practices and standards, which enhanced safe exploration and production of all petroleum including, but not limited to, shale gas.
It would further ensure that petroleum exploration was conducted in a socially and environmentally balanced manner.
The regulations would be gazetted for 30 days for public comment. - Sapa