Less than a quarter of SA favours fracking

Less than a quarter of urban South Africans are in favour of "fracking" in the Karoo, a survey released on Wednesday shows.

"While only 23 percent of metro adults in South Africa are in favour of Shell [oil company] being allowed to conduct fracking in the Karoo, only 31 percent are against it," TNS South Africa said in a statement.

The other 46 percent appeared to not know what fracking was or did not have an opinion, as they gave a don't know response.

"The issue of fracking is not well known with around half of people having no opinion on the subject," TNS said.

"While opinions do become stronger with increasing wealth (and, hence, access to information), even then, a third of people do not give an opinion."

Royal Dutch Shell and other companies have applied to the department of mineral resources to explore for shale gas in the Karoo Basin using the controversial mining technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking".

Environmental groups claim it will harm the sensitive Karoo environment and poison underground water supplies.

Shell SA argues South Africa could become "energy self-sufficient" within a decade if commercially viable gas volumes are discovered in the Karoo. This would drive foreign investments, reduce carbon emissions, and create thousands of jobs.

TNS found small differences by race and gender of those in favour of fracking.

Among black respondents, 23 percent agreed that fracking should be allowed while 26 percent disagreed. Just over half said they did not know.

Some 25 percent of whites were in favour of fracking, 41 percent against, and 34 percent did not know.

Twenty-four percent of coloureds agreed, 35 percent disagreed with fracking, and 41 percent did not know.

Among Indians/Asians, 18 percent were in favour, 40 percent disagreed, and 42 percent did not know.

Twenty-seven percent of males were in favour of fracking, compared to 20 percent of females.

"The most supportive are white males at 29 percent," TNS said.

"Whites are the least likely to give a don't know response while blacks are the most likely."

Older people and wealthier people tended to be more opposed to fracking.

The survey found support for fracking lowest in coastal cities, especially the Eastern and Western Cape, while Bloemfontein and Durban showed the highest don't know response.

TNS said the issue of fracking needed "much more airing so that the matter can be fully understood as there are potentially major implications both for and against this practice".

"That so many people have no opinion on the issue is very concerning."

In August, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu extended a moratorium on applications for licences to prospect for shale gas using fracking for a further six months.

Her department set up a task team in April to investigate the impact of mining for shale gas in the Karoo.

TNS said its study had a margin of error of less than 2.5 percent for the overall result.

It was conducted among 2000 adults -- 1260 blacks, 385 whites, 240 coloureds, and 115 Indians/Asians -- in the seven major metropolitan areas.