Ian Lewis, LONDON: Support for further shale-gas exploration in South Africa has come from a government commission. It will draw up a 20-year economic plan for the country, improving prospects that drilling will be allowed once a moratorium lifts in February.
In its national development plan, published on 11 November, the National Planning Commission (NPC) said shale-gas development should be permitted if environmental-impact studies show it to be safe. “If gas reserves are proved and environmental concerns alleviated, development of these resources and gas-to-power projects will be fast-tracked,” the report said. It is now being submitted to cabinet for approval.
The government imposed...