Fracking needn't be a dirty word for a land stuck in muck

19 June 2017 - 06:38 By The Times Editorial
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Cracked earth marks a dried up watering hole on a farm near Aberdeen in the Karoo. File photo
Cracked earth marks a dried up watering hole on a farm near Aberdeen in the Karoo. File photo
Image: MIKE HUTCHINGS/REUTERS

First it was the Karoo, where energy companies wanted to explore for gas reserves - believed to be extensive. But farming, water resources, tourism and the space telescope were said to be in danger and the brakes were slammed on. The focus moved to KwaZulu-Natal, with similar cries of alarm.

Now, the beautiful terrain around the trendy Free State town of Clarens and the Golden Gate National Park is being eyed by energy giants. As rational people, we must balance understandable worries our natural heritage will be despoiled against the powerful economic and social benefit arguments in favour of fracking.

Numbers fly about to show shale gas will free South Africa from its energy shackles, provide billions and create untold jobs. Some might be exaggeration, but it is uncontested natural gas will indeed bring massive economic benefit to the country.

It's also true that some scare stories about fracking are just that - tactics to frighten off government from granting licences.

A sensible way forward is to pursue the promise of a gift from beneath our feet eagerly, while guarding against environmental degradation. The latest fracking techniques are said to be far more ecofriendly.

With our jobless stats, a stagnant economy and the black hole that is Eskom, a font of clean gas seems a damn good idea right now.

Truth is, what we need to be most fearful of are the grasping hands of certain politicians, who will try to insert themselves and their goons into the process.

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