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The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provides a detailed critique of the proposed Technical Regulations for Petroleum Exploration and Exploitation published by the South African Minister of Mineral Resources on 15 October 2013. The CER argues that the regulations are non-binding guidelines rather than enforceable laws, lack sufficient environmental impact assessment requirements, and fail to provide for meaningful public participation or access to information. The document suggests that fracking-specific regulations should be promulgated under a broader suite of environmental laws, including NEMA, NEMWA, and the National Water Act, rather than solely under the MPRDA.

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).