The mineral and petroleum resources minister has commissioned a seismic survey for oil and gas in the Karoo Basin

But the government can’t move on its fracking ambitions until it meets the court order requiring that there will be no environmental damage

The decision to use Turkey’s floating power plants locks the country into fossil fuels for 20 years

Civil society groups have called on Namibia’s agriculture, water and forestry minister to immediately stop a Canadian company from prospecting

The minister of mineral resources and energy, Gwede Mantashe, has announced that his department will not be extracting gas by way of fracking

A vulnerability map could help assess the risks associated with fracking and groundwater which around 300 towns depend on in South Africa’s Karoo

A procedural failure on the part of government has meant a further delay for attempts to get gas out from under 15 000 farms in KwaZulu-Natal.

South Africa has adopted a softly-softly approach to shale gas exploration.

The size of BHP Billiton’s $2.8bn write-down for its US shale assets took some banks by surprise – at least two thought it was too small.

To debate on the basis of science-based evidence before making decisions is something we should aspire to in every field where it is possible.

A team of researchers has R12.5-million and two years to consider the effect of fracking for shale gas on the Karoo.

The government plans to grant oil companies licences to begin exploring the Karoo for gas from as early as July this year.

Researchers in the US have found that many of the 750 or so chemicals used in fracking are associated with fertility and developmental problems.

A ploy to soften up Russia and Iran might inflict collateral damage on its own shale industry.

Although blessed with an abundance of minerals such as gold, platinum and coal, SA has always been a major oil importer.

Critics say that plans for the department of mineral resources to monitor the impact of shale gas operations has put it at odds with its own mandate.

A new meta-study has found that the life-time greenhouse gas emissions of shale gas, extracted through fracking, are half that of coal.

The chemicals giant expects synfuel production for the year to fall in the upper end of the target range as it progresses a number of investments.

Mamphela Ramphele’s party will oppose hydraulic fracturing, a first for a South African political party.

The government must wake up and smell the roses before the stench of sulphur becomes overwhelming.