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The anti-fracking alliance, Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG) has written a letter to the Minister of Minerals, Adv Ngoako Ramatlhodi, regarding new data on water pollution from shale gas mining activities in the United States.

Referencing a report released in the US by the Wall Street Journal and Associated Press, TKAG placed what it views as a ‘smoking-gun’ in front of the Department of Minerals. TKAG CEO Jonathan Deal pointed to claims made by the international oil and gas industry and in particular by Bonang Mohale, the boss of Shell South Africa, in which the industry and Mr Mohale, since 2011, have repeatedly denied the existence of ‘even one documented case of ground water pollution from fracking’.

This latest report, according to TKAG, deals only with Pennsylvania and as such is realistically the tip of the iceberg of shale gas mining pollution in the US. “There are many reasons why this information have been concealed, and continues to be concealed from the public. As with all issues of this nature, the truth will eventually emerge, as has happened now in Pennsylvania. The anti-fracking alliance is delighted that this has come to the fore only days after the Department of Minerals was blowing its own trumpet about how it will protect water supply of South Africa.” The Director General (DG) of the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), Mr Thibedi Ramontja, on Wednesday briefed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee, telling the committee that he is “confident water will be protected."

The Wall Street Journal reported the revelations following US lawsuits and open-records requests filed by the Associated Press and other news outlets in connection with drilling-related water contamination cases, compelling the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to make documents available.  Finally, after a thorough review of paper files stored in its regional office, the DEP report revealed 243 cases where state regulators concluded drilling companies were responsible for impacting private drinking water wells.
The auditor general for Pennsylvania reportedly stated last month that the system of the DEP responsible for the handling complaints was “woefully inadequate”.  TKAG stated: “This is a landmark report which our government must seriously consider before any steps are taken to advance shale gas exploration or extraction.  Not only does the US government data disprove the claims by Shell and the South African government that shale gas mining is safe, but it also validates the concerns that we have raised since early 2011.”

Julius Kleynhans, Head of Environmental Affairs for AfriForum noted that the DMR is betting a lot on the (unseen) South African regulations which are based on the American Petroleum Institute standards. 

“Our concern is that these are the same basic standards that are drawn upon in the development of regulations in Pennsylvania and other states where water impacts have been confirmed. Although the DMR emphasised that drilling will take place, the DG in parliament was unable to provide a satisfactory answer to questions around the capacity within the department to monitor the industry,” Kleynhans said.

“It concerns us greatly that the DG of the DMR failed to acknowledge the limits of the Department when it comes to monitoring and law enforcement. Monitoring alone will not protect water resources and the draft regulations for shale gas mining are questionable at best and inadequate at worst,” Kleynhans added.

A final concern by Kleynhans with regards to regulations and monitoring, is the lack of capacity of the department to oversee even current mining activities.

“The API standards are not fool-proof and in South Africa sufficient research, especially with regards to the unique geology of the region, has not been completed, leaving the current regulations completely inadequate as a base for appropriate regulations in South Africa.  It is a recipe for disaster and a huge uncalculated risk, ” he concluded.

The TKAG complaint submitted to the Public Protector on Tuesday, 26 August, will be supplemented with this new information. “We are requesting that the government take stock of all the uncertainties, risks and costs which appears to have been brushed aside in favour of the claimed economic benefits. We urge the government to halt the process, consider all of the evidence in connection with shale gas mining and consult with South Africans.”

To access a copy of the letter to Minister Ramatlhodi and the full complaint to the Public Protector, please write to research@treasurethekaroo.co.za

Issued by AfriForum