Towards an enabling policy and governance framework for the sustainable extraction of unconventional natural gas in South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorBurger, Johanen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorDe Wit, Martinen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorde Wet, Marionen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-14T08:09:27Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-27T00:14:32Z
dc.date.available2024-02-14T08:09:27Z
dc.date.available2024-04-27T00:14:32Z
dc.date.issued2024-03
dc.descriptionThesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH SUMMARY: The effectiveness of an enabling public policy and governance framework to facilitate the sustainability, and sustainable development implications, of unconventional gas resources in the South African context is underexplored. This study aims to contribute to the broader body of literature on sustainability and sustainable exploration and production of indigenous unconventional natural gas. Yet, amidst the prevailing policy uncertainty to guide the orderly and sustainable development of an emerging upstream unconventional natural gas sector, the government’s desire to increase indigenous natural gas’ footprint in the primary energy mix towards achieving energy security is underpinned by global environmental concerns relating to carbon footprint reduction. As such, the ideal domestic energy mix should be reliant on a balanced combination of renewable energy sources, conventional fuels, and natural gas. The goal is to achieve energy security whilst simultaneously addressing global environmental concerns and reducing the country’s carbon footprint. By incorporating natural gas as a transitional energy source, South Africa can thus pave the way for a more sustainable and greener energy future. The overarching aim of this study is therefore to develop a cogent, evidence-based policy and governance framework that might be used as an industry best practice standard that will contribute towards the sustainable extraction of unconventional natural gas in South Africa, for when development of this nascent industry occurs. The sustainable extraction of unconventional gas is a complex techno-commercial, economic and ecological balancing act that requires commitment from government, private sector, civil society and relevant research institutions. Supporting and developing indigenous unconventional natural gas is a key government imperative, despite widespread concerns surrounding negative ecological and social impacts. Drawing upon a multidisciplinary framework that incorporates environmental, social, and economic dimensions, this study looks to evaluate the potential benefits and risks associated with the sustainable development of this finite natural resource. This study therefore investigates the complex interplay between sustainability, sustainable development as a basis for sustainable unconventional gas extraction practices, public policy analysis, stakeholder theory and various related governance concepts. The research links various theoretical perspectives and concepts to produce a holistic understanding of challenges and opportunities associated with developing the nascent South African unconventional natural gas industry. Public policy analysis plays a vital role in shaping the regulatory landscape. For the purpose of this study, statutory frameworks governing unconventional natural gas exploration in South Africa were assessed for effectiveness in facilitating the orderly sustainable development of the industry. Existing policies, regulations, legislation and best practices in the industry were critically analysed to identify gaps and recommend strategies for enhancing sustainability in an endeavour to minimise negative externalities. The study further identified areas of convergence and divergence that influence the sector’s sustainable outcomes by scrutinising the alignment between relevant government policy objectives, key stakeholder expectations and sustainable development goals. Stakeholder theory provides the conceptual foundation for understanding the diverse interests, concerns and power dynamics surrounding unconventional natural gas extraction activities. By adopting stakeholder-centric rationality, the research generated a comprehensive understanding of the complex network of relationships that influence the governance and decision-making processes related to unconventional natural gas exploration and production. The efficacy of managing social, environmental, and economic impacts of natural gas upstream activities relies on enabling governance mechanisms. Opportunities were identified to enhance transparency, accountability, and stakeholder participation in relevant decision-making processes by assessing the effectiveness of relevant governance frameworks. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge as it provides a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainable indigenous unconventional natural gas extraction. The collective findings enrich the existing literature by synergistically weaving together diverse theoretical perspectives encompassing sustainability, sustainable development, public policy, stakeholder theory, governance, and a meticulous examination of statutory frameworks. Additionally, the research culminated in an evidence-based, integrated ESG-focused policy and governance framework to guide orderly and sustainable extraction of unconventional natural gas in South Africa.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doeltreffendheid van 'n bemagtigende openbare beleid- en bestuursraamwerk om die volhoubaarheid en volhoubare-ontwikkeling implikasies van onkonvensionele gasbronne in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks te fasiliteer, is onderverken. Hierdie studie het ten doel om by te dra tot die meer omvangryke liggaam van literatuur oor volhoubaarheid en volhoubare ontginning en produksie van inheemse onkonvensionele natuurlike gas. Die volhoubare ontginning van onkonvensionele gas is 'n komplekse tegnologies-kommersiele, ekonomiese en ekologiese balans-aksie wat betrokkenheid van die regering, private sektor, burgerlike samelewing en relevante navorsingsinstellings vereis. Dit bly 'n noodsaaklikheid vir die regering om inheemse onkonvensionele natuurlike gas te ondersteun en te ontwikkel, ten spyte van wydverspreide kommer oor negatiewe ekologiese en sosiale impakte. Deur 'n multidissiplinere raamwerk te gebruik wat omgewings-, sosiale en ekonomiese dimensies insluit, het die studie ten doel gehad om die potensiele voordele en risiko's van die volhoubare ontwikkeling van hierdie beperkte natuurlike hulpbron te evalueer. Hierdie studie ondersoek dus die komplekse samewerking tussen volhoubaarheid en volhoubare ontwikkeling as basis vir volhoubare onkonvensionele gasontginningspraktyke, openbare beleidsanalise, belanghebbende teoriee en verskeie verwante bestuurskonsepte. Deur die verskeie teoretiese perspektiewe en konsepte wat hierdie onderskeie dissiplines onderle, te koppel, het die navorsing 'n holistiese begrip van die uitdagings en geleenthede wat verband hou met die ontwikkeling van die ontluikende Suid-Afrikaanse onkonvensionele gasbedryf gegenereer. Openbare beleidsanalise speel 'n belangrike rol in die vormgewing van die regulering van die bedryf. Die statutere raamwerke wat onkonvensionele natuurlike gasontginning in Suid-Afrika beheer, is geassesseer vir doeltreffendheid om die ordelike volhoubare ontwikkeling van die bedryf te fasiliteer. Bestaande beleide, regulasies, wetgewing en beste praktyke in die bedryf is krities geanaliseer om leemtes te identifiseer en strategiee aan te beveel om volhoubaarheid te bevorder, ten einde negatiewe eksterne effekte te verminder. Die studie het verder areas van konvergensie en divergensie geidentifiseer wat die sektor se volhoubare uitkomste beinvloed deur die afstemming tussen relevante regeringsbeleidsdoelwitte, sleutelbelanghebberverwagtinge en volhoubare-ontwikkelingsdoelwitte te ondersoek. Belanghebbende teoriee het die konseptuele grondslag gebied vir die verstaan van die uiteenlopende belange, bekommernisse en magsdinamika wat gepaard gaan met onkonvensionele gasontginningsaktiwiteite. Deur belanghebbende rasionaliteit te aanvaar, het die navorsing 'n omvattende begrip van die komplekse netwerk van verhoudings wat die bestuur en besluitnemingsprosesse met betrekking tot onkonvensionele gasontginning en produksie beinvloed, gegenereer. Die doeltreffendheid van die bestuur van die sosiale-, omgewings- en ekonomiese impakte van natuurlike gas ontginning- en produksie aktiwiteite berus op bemagtigende bestuursmeganismes. Deur die doeltreffendheid van die relevante bestuursraamwerke te assesseer, het die navorsing geleenthede geidentifiseer om deursigtigheid, verantwoordelikheid en belanghebbendes se deelname aan relevante besluitnemingsprosesse in verbandhoudende besluitnemingsprosesse te verbeter. Hierdie navorsing dra by tot die bestaande kennisliggaam deur 'n holistiese begrip van die uitdagings en geleenthede wat verband hou met volhoubare inheemse onkonvensionele gasontginning te bied. Die gesamentlike bevindinge verryk die bestaande literatuur deur diverse teoretiese perspektiewe, insluitend volhoubaarheid, volhoubare ontwikkeling, openbare beleid, belanghebbende teorie, bestuur en 'n deeglike ondersoek van statutere raamwerke, sinergisties saam te vleg. Daarbenewens het die navorsing uitgeloop op die ontwikkeling van 'n bewys-gebaseerde, geintegreerde omgewings-sosiale-bestuurs-gefokusde beleid- en bestuursraamwerk om die ordelike en volhoubare ontginning van onkonvensionele natuurlike gas in Suid-Afrika te rig.af_ZA
dc.description.versionDoctorate
dc.format.extentxix, 395 pages : illustrations
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130620
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch University
dc.subject.lcshPetroleum law and legislation -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshNatural gas -- Law and legislation -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshHydraulic fracturing -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshNatural gas reserves -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.nameUCTD
dc.titleTowards an enabling policy and governance framework for the sustainable extraction of unconventional natural gas in South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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