Frack the Karoo

So by now, everyone should be well informed about the South African Government's intention to implement their plans of Hydraulic Fracturing in the Karoo (semi-desert area in the western region of South Africa). However, I doubt that the citizens within that region understand the implications that this may bring into their lives.

Current plans state that operations could start within the next 12 to 18 months with 5 companies that have already planned for licenses. Although these companies have already applied for licenses, the state is yet to confirm regulations pertaining to fracking within South Africa which is currently still in draft form and required to go through political and public participation processes. Also, the state will make use of the American Petroleum Institutes specifications in terms of what will be required for the retention of these wells.

From Engineering News 28, Oct 2014

Alright, now that we have the just out of the way - the issues that I have with fracking includes the fact that its exploratory. This saying that they are not exactly sure where it is but yet are willing to drill between 1.5km - 4km below the earth's surface to investigate whether or not there are any shale gas resources to extract.

Furthermore, another issue is the fact that you have companies such as Shell, Bundu Oil and Gas, and Falcon Oil and Gas that have already applied for exploration licenses but yet the state hasn't confirmed their regulatory stance towards fracking operations. Regulatory framework doesn't only ensure that the country has a specific stance towards operations like fracking - which is sensitive to the environment, but also includes possible changes to existing legislations around environmental, economic and social matters. Further to the change, regulations also imply that there are certain standards (infrastructure and operational) that should be enforced in order to allow and prohibit certain activities that the environment/geology may be sensitive towards.

Finally, another concern is the ratio between the impact and that of the actual full benefits of fracking operations. As the South Africa government is a developing company... I mean a developing country, their main focus should be and is to be economically driven (in a sustainable form) in order to reach a target where all other livelihood requirements can be self-sustaining. However, sometimes some activities are more monetarily driven than others. My big question to fracking operations is whether or not the ration between the impacts of fracking operations will ever meet up to the surrounding economic, social and environmental needs.

Only time will tell, and seems like this time there is a clock to when this will happen.

For some information follow the link below:
Engineering News: Karoo Fracking Could Start by Mid-2016

Planning Towards Sustainability: The Path of India’s Urban Mobility

Appropriately planned, designed and implemented; urban mobility can assist is pursuing  goals towards a more sustainable network that is able to bring a myriad of benefits that embraces social inclusion, reduced environmental degradation, and economic growth.

Extracted from Toolkit for Urban Development: Comprehensive Mobility Plan

With the assistance of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the Institute of Urban Transport (and other partners), India’s Ministry of Urban Development contributed to the revision of a toolkit entitled “Toolkits for Urban Development: Comprehensive Mobility Plans” – which was first published in 2008. Some of the objectives of this Comprehensive Mobility Plan focuses on transport modelling (surveying, forecasting), measuring emissions, and to integrated transport planning and land use management. It is therefore envisioned that such objectives creates an outcome that produces and efficient private and public transport network and system – which includes efficient private vehicle traffic management, enhanced public transport planning and management as well as implementing non-motorized transport initiatives. With objectives and outcomes such as these it would be easy to envision a possible future that produces an economic, social and an environmental sustainability.

Although revised by the Indian Ministry of Urban Development, with its partners, the target users of this toolkit includes town planners, policy makers, governmental authorities (especially that of cities) and consultants – supposedly to synchronize the planning paradigm.

The toolkit further includes other items that takes the user through the Preparation Process and Task Descriptions with annexures of examples to survey forms and project sheets to name a few.

Finally, with regards to the identification and Prioritization of projects, the toolkit establishes within its priority list that there are short-, medium-, and long-term measures that need to be considered. One Short-term measure is aimed at improving the immediate (0 – 2 years) safety and improved accessibility of pedestrians. A medium-term measure (3 – 5 years) concentrates within corridor scaled projects, therefore considering fleet improvements, transit scheduling and bicycle networks. Long-term measures are (5 – 10 years) regarded as action required that will eventually produce what was envisioned when such CMP’s are prepared with items that influence regulations, overall accessibility and improved standards within current urban areas and future developments.

Please use the following links for more information about the Toolkit and other sources about the future of India’s urban mobility:

Press Release: India's Urban Mobility Plans Pathway to Sustainability
Article: The Future of Low Carbon Transport in India
Document: Toolkit for Urban Transport Development