Shell exploration to kill SKA bid?

Exploration by oil company Shell in the Karoo could threaten SA's bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope.

The company has proposed to explore for gas in an area of more than 90 000 square kilometres, in the South Western Karoo Basin, through a controversial “fracking” process.

Val Munsami, deputy director-general for research development and innovation at the Department of Science and Technology (DST), says the shale gas initiative leaves a big question around the SKA.

At a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee meeting this week, he said the department is concerned about the exploration from an SKA perspective.

“In terms of international lobbying strategies, it's starting to creep in. The international partners are asking questions about where this is going and how it will impact the SKA.”

Associate director of the SKA SA project Anita Loots said the actual fracking may cause a problem at a later stage, but the immediate concern is around strong radio signals that will be present because of the exploration.

She explained that some of the physical requirements for the selection of the site included an "extremely radio quiet environment", and it should be at least 3 000km in extent.

Not only would Shell's plans result in radio frequency interference, but - according to SKA SA project manager Bernie Fanaroff - drilling rigs around the area would also interfere with the telescope.

Munsami said the DST has energy professionals that are looking at the implications of this exploration.

“One of the key regulations we have in place is the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act, which regulates that area.”

He added that the department is putting a management authority in place at the DST to ensure regulations are fulfilled to protect the SKA.

“So our main task is to see if there is any radio frequency interference, and if there is, then we'll have to have that discussion, but the DST and Department of Energy are in ongoing discussions around that.”

However, Fanaroff says Shell's plans are not affecting SA's international lobbying strategy for the telescope at this stage.

He says the international partners have noted the issue, but understand that SA's legislation will be able to deal with the matter.

“I don't know if the Act can stop all of Shell's plans, but it can definitely stop them from doing anything that would affect the telescope.”

“The SKA for us is essentially the next World Cup,” said Munsami.

In addition, the DST has projected several major benefits for the country and the rest of the continent in areas of science and research, should SA win the bid.

In January, the DST said SA has already spent R258 million on securing the project. It added that R23 million was spent on universities, while R155 million funded building roads to the site. Another R11.5 million was spent on building accommodation.

The SKA is going to cost $2 billion to build and then a further $150 million to $200 million per year for 50 years for maintenance and operations, according to Fanaroff.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) also says Shell's proposal is wholly premature, and should not be entertained by Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA).

The DA is principally concerned about the process of hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, which uses immense amounts of water, and has the potential to contaminate surrounding bodies of water with pollutants.

“The process is highly controversial and has been banned in several areas in the US. The precautionary principle has to apply when considering any proposal that involves fracking, and for the moment we simply do not know enough about the deep geology of the Karoo, nor is it evident how the already water-stressed Karoo could provide the water for this thirsty activity,” says shadow minister of water and environmental affairs Gareth Morgan.

He adds that Shell is consulting with interested and affected parties, and is compiling an environmental management plan. After this, PASA will consider whether to grant an exploration right for three years, which can be extended for up to six more years thereafter.

SA is bidding against Australia to host the SKA.

The final decision regarding the successful host country for the SKA telescope is expected in 2012, with work due to start in 2013. Operations will start in 2015, provided a significant portion of the array has been commissioned.

The SKA is a mega telescope, about 100 times more sensitive than the biggest existing radio telescope. It will consist of approximately 3 000 dish-shaped antennae and other hybrid receiving technologies, with a core of about 2 000 antennae and outlying stations of 30 to 40 antennae each, spiralling out of the core. These stations will be spread over a vast area of up to 3 000km.

The DST says research areas will include observational radio astronomy, radio astronomy instrumentation, digital signal processing, distributed data processing and RF broadband feeds, receivers and cryogenic packages.