KAROO NEWSFLASH - Last week heralded the good news that the Department of Mineral Resources’ fracking regulations had been declared invalid in the Grahamstown High Court.

Attorney Derek Light represented Agri Eastern Cape and farmers unions from more than a dozen districts, including Cradock, Graaff-Reinet and Jansenville.

These applicants argued that the so-called fracking regulations (officially known as the Regulations for Petroleum Exploration and Production) passed by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) in 2015 were invalid, because, in 2013, the Mining Minister’s ability to rule on environmental matters was removed.

Judge Gerald Bloem agreed and ordered the DMR to pay the legal costs of the applicants. 

As a result of the fracking regulations being struck down, the DMR cannot issue rights to prospect for shale gas using hydraulic fracturing.

Shortly after the ruling was announced, Mineral Resources Minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, reiterated the ANC Government’s commitment to fracking and said his department may appeal the ruling.

If Judge Bloem’s judgment stands, however, it falls to the Department of Environmental Affairs to draft the regulations, which could cause more long delays.

Read more in Friday's Oudtshoorn Courant, as well as online.

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