South Africa Has 5th Largest Shale Gas Reserves in the World
South Africa has world’s 5th largest shale gas reserves, said the Minister for Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane, on Thursday, according to official SA News.
“Currently South Africa is a net importer of energy sources such as crude oil, refined petroleum products and natural gas. It is estimated that the Karoo shale gas resources would mean South Africa has the 5th largest reserves, estimated at 485 trillion cubic feet (Tcf),” Zwane said. “We however take a conservative view of a 30 TcF economically recoverable resource, which is equivalent to 30 times the size of the Mossgas plants.”
He was speaking during a community imbizo in Cradock, in the Eastern Cape.
The department has devised a promotional programme through which the public and especially communities that are close to the proposed development are educated and informed about these developments, he added.
“This will ensure that communities are kept up to date about the exploration method and benefits that can be realised from the exploitation of shale gas and informed about the mechanisms and instruments that seek to augment existing laws for the protection of water resources and for the protection of the environment,” said Zwane.