Shale gas in South Africa: Toward an understanding of the security implications

Abstract

The potentially large shale gas reserves in South Africa's Karoo region have provoked serious debate. Critics cite legitimate environmental concerns related to hydraulic fracturing, the controversial gas extraction technique also known as ‘fracking’. Members of industry and others promote the potentially transformational impact on South Africa's post-apartheid economy. Yet scholars and analysts have thus far focused on immediate concerns and relatively short-term goals. To address the broader security implications related to South Africa's potential commercial shale gas reserves, this article takes a new approach and establishes important areas of further study.