Coetzee, Hennie; Kotzé, Louis J. --- "Shale gas development and water in South Africa: regulatory aspects" [2017] ELECD 1485; in Hollo, J. Erkki (ed), "Water Resource Management and the Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017) 369

Book Title: Water Resource Management and the Law

Editor(s): Hollo, J. Erkki

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781785369827

Section: Chapter 15

Section Title: Shale gas development and water in South Africa: regulatory aspects

Author(s): Coetzee, Hennie; Kotzé, Louis J.

Number of pages: 20

Abstract/Description:

South Africa does not have a single, integrated law that comprehensively provides regulation of all water aspects during the life cycle stages of shale gas development (SGD). Two published reports on water related aspects of SGD in South Africa seem to agree on a number of main findings. One of the findings relates to the need for alignment between different pieces of legislation. The findings of (i) the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and (ii) the Report on South Africa’s Technical Readiness for SGD seem to indicate that further enhancements to the regulatory framework are likely. There is currently no intergovernmental agency or body to facilitate and enable cooperative governance and the alignment of different laws and agencies. We believe government would be well-advised to establish such an institution as soon as possible so that it can benefit from an integrated and holistic approach to water-SGD governance. Keywords: Chapter 15 (Coetzee and Kotzé): Hydraulic fracturing, shale-gas development (SGD), water cycle of SGD, water acquisition, chemical mixing well injection, water resources of South Africa