Not much news coming from the Karoo.

THE prospect of fracking in the Northern Cape is one of the main concerns of Phil Diamond, director-general of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Organisation.

A large portion of the €2bn giant radio telescope will be built in the Northern Cape’s Karoo. Last year Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu lifted a moratorium on shale gas exploration in the Karoo.

"Fracking is something to watch," Prof Diamond said last week, on the sidelines of the European Union Science Conference. However, Prof Diamond’s concern is not fracking itself: "I’m not worried about the seismic impact (of fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing).

"The infrastructure and vehicular traffic will bring people, with mobile phones."

The Northern Cape and Western Australia were chosen for the SKA site because they are remote and sparsely populated. This means there is minimal radio frequency interference, a trump card for a radio astronomy site.

While the Northern Cape is also in the Karoo, it is not clear whether the exploration will take place near the SKA site, which is about 80km outside the small town of Carnarvon.

Shell is applying for exploration rights in that area.

This is not the first time that concern has been raised about the controversial natural gas extraction technique, which involves pumping a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals to break apart underground shale rock and extract the gas.

Shell has proposed to explore 90,000km² of the south western Karoo Basin for shale gas.

The project has been opposed by farmers, residents, and landowners including businessman Johann Rupert and Princess Irene of the Netherlands.

SKA SA director Bernie Fanaroff said that the project did not consider fracking a problem for two reasons: "We recommended to Cabinet, which was accepted … (that there be) a buffer zone around the SKA" in which there would be no fracking.

"(Former science and technology) minister (Naledi) Pandor, and now Minister (Derek) Hanekom, have made it clear that they will protect the SKA using the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act," Dr Fanaroff said.

"But, going beyond that, in our discussions with major gas companies, they support South Africa’s SKA bid," he said.

Shell SA chairman and vice-president Bonang Mohale on Monday confirmed Dr Fanaroff’s comments, saying "Shell fully supports the SKA project".

When asked whether the energy and petroleum giant would respect the buffer zones around the SKA, Mr Mohale said: "Absolutely."