Be proactive on energy sprawl: South Africa must anticipate surface impacts of fracking in rural areas

A suite of new technologies for developing unconventional petroleum resources, collectively known as fracking, has stirred debate over energy production in South Africa. As an arid country with a growing human population, concern about fracking has understandably focused on water consumption and pollution. But recent research on public perceptions of fracking in South Africa indicates surface impacts to agricultural and nature conservation resources are not given sufficient consideration. We recommend agricultural and conservation organisations understand these potential impacts and draw on lessons learned from rapid fracking development abroad to prepare for production-scale fracking in South Africa (even though it is likely far off). We apply results from research on landowner and operator perspectives on fracking in the rural, agricultural Bakken region of North Dakota, USA, which describe substantial impacts on farm and ranch management and rural way-of-life. We present these experiences as lessons learned that South Africans can use to prepare for fracking from the individual farm to national legislation and regulations.