The head of South Africa’s National Planning Commission, Kuben Naidoo, backs exploration for shale gas in the ecologically sensitive Karoo region provided environmental safeguards are met, Beeld reported, citing Naidoo.

Gas, including shale gas, would be a cheaper option than nuclear power to supply South Africa’s future energy needs, Naidoo told lawmakers in Cape Town yesterday, according to the Johannesburg-based newspaper.

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