Envirotorq Case Study

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3.1 The estimated benefits of fracking

The benefits of fracking are reported to be a diversification of South Africa’s energy mix. This will mean that South Africa will be able to decrease their reliance on coal as a source of energy. Over 90 percent of South Africa’s electricity is supplied by burning coal, with around 5 percent generated from nuclear energy, and the rest supplied by hydro, diesel, and other minor sources (Fig, 2013). One of the benefits of using gas extracted by fracking is that it would reduce South Africa’s carbon footprint and minimise gas emissions from burning coal. South Africa has continually emphasised its commitment to a low carbon future in the long run (Fig, 2013). Shale gas has the potential to provide electricity for all the areas that are still without electricity in South Africa as well be able to meet future energy demands as South Africa’s the shale gas in the Karoo is expected to provide the country with around 400 years of energy supply (Netshishivhe, 2014).

Another proposed benefit of shale gas mining is job creation. With South Africa’s unemployment rate being a staggering 26.5 percent, the hydraulic fracturing industry is set to provide 700 000 worth of jobs in the country, thereby helping to reduce the country’s unemployment rate as well as create employment in the areas in which fracking will be taking place, like the Karoo (Trading Economics, 2017). South Africa’s GDP could also benefit immensely as it is estimated that fracking could potentially provide South Africa’s GDP with around 200 billion year on year which could assist the economy to grow in other areas.

3.2 The estimated disadvantages of fracking

There are quite a few disadvantages which is why there is public outcry regarding fracking. One of the biggest concerns is water. The fracking process requires an enormous amount of water and South Africa is a water scarce country which went through a drought in 2016. The Karoo one of South Africa’s driest area. Life in the Karoo depends on access to groundwater from underground aquifers or chambers containing fresh water which is replenished by the infrequent rains. The Water Research Commission has determined that 94 percent of Karoo towns are totally dependent on groundwater (Fig, 2013 cited in Greef, 2012, pp. 8-9) and this raises the question of how the fracking industry will source the millions of litres it will need to undertake its operations. The potential pollution of water is also another area for concern. Between 30 and over 70 per cent of the water used in the process will be unrecoverable and will remain underground. The use of toxic chemicals in the drilling process have also raised questions about whether any damage to the drill casing will release toxic fracking liquid into underground freshwater sources and contaminate them.

Waste management is another concern, what then happens to the fracking liquid? Fig (2014) goes on to say the fracking liquid returns to the surface after use, and has to be disposed of without causing harm to the environment. On site there need to be lined ponds or tanks to receive the toxic sludge initially. How will the final waste of fracking be disposed of in a way that does not further harm the environment as Capacity to deal with the extensive management of hazardous waste arising from the fracking industry does not yet exist. Aside from liquid and solid wastes, there will be enormous dust pollution arising from the large-scale transportation of water, sand and chemicals on mostly gravel surfaced roads if the water is going to be sourced from outside of the Karoo.

Another concern of fracking is the climate. Shale gas consists mostly of methane a fossil fuel whose combustion contributes to global warming. Although carbon dioxide emissions are less than coal or conventional gas, methane is recognised as a greenhouse gas under the Kyoto Protocol and is far more deadly for the climate than carbon dioxide. Recent research from Cornell University shows that shale gas has a larger greenhouse gas footprint than coal, 20 percent more, rising to 40 percent more over 20 years and only becoming lower than coal after 100 years (Fig 2013, cited in Howarth et al., 2011). This and other studies in the US have shown that up to 8 percent of the mined methane is directly released into the atmosphere during the fracking process. According to the research is then means that hydraulic fracturing will not aid South Africa in reducing their carbon footprint.

During the exploration phase, very few jobs will be created on site, US indicate that only 13.3 direct jobs are generated per well (Fig 2013 cited in Food and Water Watch, 2011). Oil and gas companies admit that they outsource the fracking functions to experienced subcontractors this implies that the tenders will be awarded to foreign companies, which will use their own labour, and not be in a position to draw from unskilled Karoo residents or the skills of the rest of the South African population as fracking is relatively new to the country. With the increased risks of water contamination and severe air pollution, the fate of local agriculture is at stake. In the Eastern Cape, agriculture employs over 60 000, including providing livelihoods for many thousands of emerging farmers (Fig, 2013 cited in Stats SA, 2010). Farmers will not be able to continue under conditions of air and water contamination. The Karoo would lose its reputation for clean air, soil and farm produce. Those trying to sell up will experience difficulty in finding willing buyers, and property prices would plummet. Many farm workers would be displaced, adding to the epidemic of unemployment. The water and air pollution could lead to the development of illnesses to the residents of the Karoo.

4. A VIABLE POSITION IN THE MINDS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC FOR ENVIROTORQ AND THE ANTI-FRACKING CAMPAIGN

EnviroTorq is going to establish an environmental campaign whose message is anti-fracking. The aim of campaign is to create awareness around fracking in South Africa and it is centred on discourse of the issue informed by reliable, unbiased, scientific assessment of fracking viability in South Africa and specifically in the Karoo. In order to establish a position for the campaign, the next section will explain and illustrate the positioning domains.

4.1 Positioning goal domain

The positioning goal domain can be referred to as the desire to achieve a specific goal that the position taken may achieve. (James, 2014, p. 60). There are five positioning purpose classifications whereby positioning is variously undertaken for the purposes of ingratiation, intimidation,