Cons

Below are links to the con's associated with fracking:

http://plettenberg-bay-accommodation.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-pros-and-cons-of-fracking-guest.html

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/fracking-cancer-risk-1.1387127#.UXmeWMpn6Sp

http://safcei.org/memorandum-ban-fracking-in-south-africa/

http://www.consultancyafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1168:fracking-in-the-karoo-a-step-in-the-right-direction-&catid=82:african-industry-a-business&Itemid=266

Pro's

Below are links to websites that discuss the pro's of fracking in South Africa:

http://www.enviropaedia.com/topic/default.php?topic_id=297

http://www.consultancyafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1168:fracking-in-the-karoo-a-step-in-the-right-direction-&catid=82:african-industry-a-business&Itemid=266

http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/science/environment/fracking-could-bring-benefits-sacci-1.1378369#.UXmor8pn6So
http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2012-05-22-energy-get-cracking-on-fracking/#.UXmo5cpn6So

Why Fracking?

South Africa cannot rely on coal forever – it is a non-renewable source of energy – and so alternatives must be sought. Shale gas is one such alternative. 

The gas extracted could provide South Africa with 400 years’ worth of energy. For a country that regularly endures power cuts, that would mean a brighter future. The government reckons that if 30 trillion cubic feet of gas is produced, the sales value would be almost a trillion rand.

Information taken from:
http://www.fin24.com/Opinion/Columnists/Fracking-in-a-nutshell-20120912

http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2012/10/shale-gas-south-africa

What is Fracking?

Fracking, in a nutshell, consists of the following four steps:

1. Vertical drilling commences till a target depth is reached, at which point the drill goes horizontal.

2. A perforating gun blows holes through the walls of the well, creating channels for the fracking fluid (a mixture of water, sand and chemicals) to reach the surrounding shale.

3. The fracking fluid is injected at high pressure to fracture the shale, while the sand in the fluid keeps the cracks open.

4. Part of the fluid flows back to the surface (the amount depends on the depth, horizontal distance and number of times a well is fractured). The natural gas then flows up through the well.

The sand and chemical additives help to eliminate bacteria from the water, lubricate the fracking process and prevent scale deposits that can build up on piping and equipment; they are, therefore, essential to effectively extracting shale gas. 

Information taken from: 
http://www.fin24.com/Opinion/Columnists/Fracking-in-a-nutshell-20120912

Intro

My blog is about 'fracking' within South Africa, focusing primarily on the Karoo. 

The South African Government made the decision to lift the moratorium on fracking in South Africa. While the government has lifted its moratorium on shale gas exploration, the controversial hydraulic fracturing technique, ‘fracking’, is still restricted as the country weighs environmental risks against opportunities for economic development.

Information taken from:

http://africanarguments.org/2012/11/15/fracking-it-in-south-africa-an-argument-for-shale-gas-production-in-the-karoo-by-john-schellhase/