South Africa Likely to Hand Out Shale Exploration Licenses Early Next Year

South Africa may hand out shale gas exploration licenses in the first quarter of 2014, country’s Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu told news agency Bloomberg.

“Now we have a 30-day period where we are expecting to get public comments from the various parties; by early next year, it will be done,” she said in an interview to Bloomberg in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Last week, South Africa’s cabinet approved regulations on shale gas exploration and exploitation.

“The proposed regulations prescribe good international petroleum industry practices and standards, which enhance safe exploration and production of all petroleum - including, but not limited to, shale gas, and will further ensure that petroleum exploration is conducted in a socially and environmentally balanced manner,” Shabangu said last week.

Royal Dutch Shell and other explorers have applied for permits to explore the Karoo, Bloomberg said.

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