PROPOSED SOUTH WESTERN KAROO BASIN GAS EXPLORATION PROJECT – PETROLEUM AGENCY OF SOUTH AFRICA REFERENCE NUMBERS: 12/3/219, 12/3/220, 12/3/221: REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIMEFRAMES AND FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY WORKSHOP SERIES

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a letter to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) on 12 August 2011, reporting on a series of community workshops regarding Shell's shale gas exploration applications in the Karoo. The CER highlights significant gaps in public participation, reports widespread community concerns regarding water and food security, and urges PASA to require additional consultation with disadvantaged communities before recommending a decision on the Environmental Management Programme (EMP).

• The CER and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) conducted a workshop series across 17 towns in the Karoo between 30 May and 26 June 2011, attended by 234 community representatives. The workshops aimed to raise awareness of shale gas exploration applications, inform residents of potential impacts, and encourage involvement in decision-making processes.
• There is evidence of inadequate public participation by Shell's appointed consultant, Golder Associates. Golder Associates visited only 10 of the 17 towns visited by CER/WESSA, and only 14% (32 out of 234) of the CER/WESSA workshop delegates had attended Golder Associates' meetings. Furthermore, only 25% (59 delegates) had any prior knowledge of shale gas applications submitted to PASA.
• Community concerns vary by region, with the Western Karoo showing total opposition to gas extraction due to anxieties over water contamination and scarcity. In contrast, some members of the Eastern Karoo welcomed the potential for economic benefits and employment, expressing a willingness to accept development regardless of environmental destruction to change the status quo.
• Workshop participants identified several systemic risks associated with shale gas exploration, including threats to food security and job losses in the agricultural sector, potential for large-scale illnesses that local clinics and hospitals lack the capacity to treat, and the degradation of unique landscapes which could harm the tourism sector.
• In the Eastern Karoo, residents expressed concern that local government was not sufficiently involved or proactive in informing the community about gas applications. Some community structures were found to be dependent on local government, making them hesitant to act against the government's stance.
• The CER recommends that PASA require additional consultation with disadvantaged Karoo communities, including providing transport to meetings. They also request that PASA direct shale gas applicants to fund a simple, objective brochure explaining the Shell EMP, as many community members lack the educational background to understand the technical document without assistance.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2011). PROPOSED SOUTH WESTERN KAROO BASIN GAS EXPLORATION PROJECT – PETROLEUM AGENCY OF SOUTH AFRICA REFERENCE NUMBERS: 12/3/219, 12/3/220, 12/3/221: REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIMEFRAMES AND FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY WORKSHOP SERIES. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CER-Letter-to-PASA-12-Aug-20111.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. PROPOSED SOUTH WESTERN KAROO BASIN GAS EXPLORATION PROJECT – PETROLEUM AGENCY OF SOUTH AFRICA REFERENCE NUMBERS: 12/3/219, 12/3/220, 12/3/221: REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIMEFRAMES AND FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY WORKSHOP SERIES. 2011. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CER-Letter-to-PASA-12-Aug-20111.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=PROPOSED SOUTH WESTERN KAROO BASIN GAS EXPLORATION PROJECT – PETROLEUM AGENCY OF SOUTH AFRICA REFERENCE NUMBERS: 12/3/219, 12/3/220, 12/3/221: REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIMEFRAMES AND FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY WORKSHOP SERIES |date=12 August 2011 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CER-Letter-to-PASA-12-Aug-20111.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2011proposed, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{PROPOSED SOUTH WESTERN KAROO BASIN GAS EXPLORATION PROJECT – PETROLEUM AGENCY OF SOUTH AFRICA REFERENCE NUMBERS: 12/3/219, 12/3/220, 12/3/221: REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIMEFRAMES AND FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY WORKSHOP SERIES}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2011}, month = aug, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CER-Letter-to-PASA-12-Aug-20111.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }