Shale-gas debate diverts attention from big oil-and-gas rush off South African coast

摘要

The ongoing shale-gas debate around fracing in the Karoo is distracting attention from the "oil-and-gas" rush off the South African coast. There is a. massive rush off the South African coast that has the potential to radically alter the energy landscape of South Africa, and no one is talking about it. Within months of the discovery of huge gas reserves off the Mozambicah coast in early 2012, international oil companies rushed in to explore oil and gas opportunities off the entire coast of South Africa: east, south and west. They include names such as Anadarko, Total, Sasol and ExxonMobil. Approximately 99% of all drillable areas off the coast have been, awarded or are under application.