Only a matter of time before govt lifts ban on shale gas exploration - Mantashe

CAPE TOWN - Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said it was only a matter of time before government lifted the ban on shale gas exploration. 

He believes non-governmental agencies who have opposed the exploration in the past are deliberately used by their foreign funders to block development. 

Speaking at the Africa Energy Week in Cape Town on Thursday, Mantashe said a balance must be struck between development and managing climate change.

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Minister Mantashe said that exploration in the Karoo had proven the shale gas deposits were economically viable. 

He said that despite vehement opposition from environmentalists for more than a decade, government was not giving up on exploiting this source. 

"We are just waiting for the final promulgation of regulations. We are going to lift the moratorium and ask people to apply for it. We want that shale gas to be exploited."

Mantashe said he was prepared for another round of backlash.

"If you stop development, you are going to have consequences further down the line, and to me shale gas is used in many countries, including the United States." 

Mantashe said he believed there were ways to drill responsibility for gas that would protect the fragile ecosystem of the area.