Shell leads South Africa's shale gas development

摘要

Shell aims to start shale gas drilling in South Africa by the end of next year once it has secured state environmental approvals and exploration rights. Exploration, which will centre on the desert-like Karoo region, could see gas reserves developed to supply South Africa's power sector, which is struggling to meet growing local and regional electricity demand. Domestic energy firm Sasol, Norway's Statoil and US independent Chesapeake Energy have teamed up to begin initial surveying for shale gas in the Karoo region. Sasol bought a 50pc stake in Talisman Energy's Farrell Creek shale gas assets in British Columbia in December for C$1.05bn ($1.07bn) as part of its shale gas strategy.