GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The public hearings for phase 2 of the proposed Karoo Geophysical Research Project were conducted in Graaff-Reinet, Middelburg and Cradock on 22, 24 and 25 July respectively.
The Support Centre for Land Change (SCLC), accompanied by members of the Karoo Environmental Justice Movement (KEJM) from Willowmore, Rietbron, Graaff-Reinet, Middelburg and Cradock, participated in the events.
The proposed project was commissioned by Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe in terms of section 50(1) of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act.
It is aimed, inter alia, at determining where groundwater aquifers are located and how deep they are; exploring possible structural links between shallow and deep water aquifers; and determining whether these aquifers are compartmentalised by sills and dykes.
Additionally, the project will investigate the presence of geological structures associated with mineral and petroleum resources, as well as any potential geohazards or geo-environmental risks.
Memorandum
During the hearings, the SCLC and KEJM submitted a memorandum objecting to the project, based on serious concerns about its potential impact, particularly on the Karoo’s sensitive groundwater systems, the geological integrity of the Karoo environment, and the well-being of Karoo communities.
“We may not be geologists, but we have a deep understanding of the land we live on,” they stated.
“The Karoo’s underground water systems are complex and vulnerable, and we are deeply concerned that even the slightest disturbance to this system could have lasting impacts on our water resources.”
Agriculture
They highlighted the critical role of water in sustaining the region’s agricultural sector, one of its largest employers.
“Livestock and crop production are heavily dependent on secure water supplies and therefore any disruption to groundwater systems poses a serious threat to rural livelihoods and food security,” they stated.
“Farmworkers are especially at risk as they often live in remote or under-resourced areas where alternative water sources are limited or unavailable.
For them, reliable access to water is vital not only for basic survival, but also to uphold the sanitation standards necessary in food production.”
They added that, for indigenous groups such as the Khoi and San, water holds deep cultural and spiritual meaning, and no activity that risks disturbing water systems should be allowed to proceed without their full, free, and prior informed consent.
Opposition demands
Based on these considerations, they demanded that both phase 1 (Central Karoo) and phase 2 (Eastern Cape) of the proposed project be halted as they pose unacceptable risks to the entire region’s already fragile water systems, agricultural sustainability, cultural heritage, and social stability.
They also demanded that no geophysical or exploratory work of this nature be permitted in the Karoo, as communities in the region have consistently voiced opposition to extractive and invasive activities that threaten their water, land, and livelihoods.
Long-term consequences
Another primary concern that was raised is that this project cannot be separated from its potential long-term consequences, including shale gas exploration in the Karoo region.
They believe that any shale gas developments will further entrench South Africa’s dependence on fossil fuels at a time when there is global scientific consensus about the urgent need to transition away from carbon-intensive energy sources to combat climate change.
“South Africa, like many countries, is already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change.
In regions such as the Karoo in particular, the impacts of climate change are not abstract - they are undeniable, immediate, and intensifying,” they stated.
Heightened risks for communities
“Climate change disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities who are already confronted with deep structural challenges and have limited or no resources to adapt or recover.
These communities face heightened risks as extreme weather events and environmental threats become more frequent and severe, and any further fossil fuel expansion will only add to their hardships and deepen existing inequalities.”
They contended that shale gas, although sometimes portrayed as a “cleaner” fossil fuel than coal, still contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly through the release of methane.
“Methane traps heat far more efficiently than carbon dioxide - around 80 times more over a 20-year period - making it especially harmful to the climate in the short term, as it causes rapid warming within just a few years of being released,” they stated.
For this reason, they also demanded that Nemai Consulting and associated institutions immediately withdraw support for any projects that may open the door to any shale gas developments in the Karoo region.
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