South Africa Set to Lift Shale Gas Moratorium, Opening Karoo Basin to Exploration
South Africa is preparing to lift its long-standing moratorium on shale gas development, clearing the way for new exploration across the resource-rich Karoo Basin.
The country’s Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister, Gwede Mantashe, confirmed that the ban would be lifted once updated environmental regulations are formally published later this month.
The moratorium, first imposed in 2011, halted all new applications for shale gas exploration amid public concerns over the environmental risks of hydraulic fracturing.
Since then, the government has collaborated with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment to introduce stricter safeguards on water usage and ecological protection.
“Once those regulations are gazetted, I will lift the moratorium,” said Mantashe, highlighting that oil and gas development remains central to South Africa’s economic growth plans and energy diversification strategy.
Shale gas has long been considered a potential game-changer for South Africa, which relies heavily on coal for power and imports most of its natural gas from Mozambique.
Domestic shale gas production could help reduce import dependence and provide a transition fuel to support the country’s shift toward lower-carbon energy sources.
The Karoo Basin is estimated to hold more than 200 trillion cubic feet of shale gas, offering significant potential to bolster South Africa’s energy security and support sustainable economic growth.
