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 report to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) following a series of community workshops in the Karoo. The CER argues that public participation by Shell's consultants, Golder Associates, was insufficient, as only 14% of workshop attendees had participated in those meetings. The document details widespread community concerns regarding water contamination, food security, and health, while noting a regional divide where some Eastern Karoo residents welcome potential economic benefits. The CER recommends additional consultation and the creation of simplified information brochures to ensure disadvantaged communities can exercise their constitutional rights.

• Public participation efforts by Golder Associates, appointed by Shell, were limited in scope and reach; they visited only 10 of the 17 towns where CER/WESSA held workshops, and only 14% of the 234 CER/WESSA delegates had attended Golder's meetings.
• There is a significant lack of awareness among Karoo communities regarding shale gas applications, with only 25% of workshop delegates having prior knowledge of applications submitted to PASA.
• Water security is the primary concern in the Western Karoo, specifically regarding the risk of fracking contaminating limited water supplies and groundwater.
• Community attitudes toward gas extraction differ by region: while the western Karoo is almost entirely opposed, some residents in the Eastern Karoo are willing to accept environmental destruction in exchange for economic development and employment.
• Residents fear that shale gas exploration will lead to severe social and infrastructure degradation, including increased crime, drug abuse, air pollution from truck influx, and the devastation of poor-quality roads.
• The CER asserts that impoverished communities are being excluded from the decision-making process, violating their constitutional rights, as most cannot understand the draft Environmental Management Programme (EMP) 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} }