Dates: 05 March 2012 - 08 March 2012
Venue: Convention Dynamics, Isando, Johannesburg
Contact: krancis [at] iir [dot] co [dot] za (Keri Francis)

Discuss and debate the challenges and opportunities associated with Shale Gas development

The debate around shale gas as a future energy resource for South Africa has certainly been an emotional and highly contentious issue. Shale gas development in South Africa is currently on hold as the Government has currently extended a moratorium on shale gas exploration, with a decision pending in April 2012.

The Institute for International Research has decided to bring back its highly successful Shale Gas conference. This event has been redesigned for 2012 and will incorporate critical debate and discussions around not only the potential benefits of shale gas, but the inherent challenges of shale gas development and exploration. The event will also feature highly acclaimed experts from around the world, as well as South Africa’s most prominent key role players.

If you have an interest in shale gas, whether it be the concerns that it poses, or the role it will play in developing South Africa’s energy mix, it is essential that you attend this crucial event.

Key topics:

• A current overview: where are we with regards to shale gas development in South Africa?
• How have perceptions of shale gas in the media been created/perceived?
• Examining the regulatory process governing shale gas exploration
• Examining the current legislative environment in terms of South Africa’s energy policy
• Is shale gas the best way to go? To what extent will the impact on the environment ever make shale gas a viable option?
• Conducting an environmental management plan in the Karoo basin with regards to the proposed fracking practices and shale gas exploration
• The development of shale gas and the role it plays in global energy supply
• The potential of shale gas development in South Africa: Shell’s perspective
• Shale gas mining in South Africa: panacea or ticket to the great disruption?

Benefits of attending:

• Explore an update on the latest regulatory developments in terms of shale gas exploration and licensing
• Hear from top international and renowned shale experts including Professor Terry Engelder, Dr. Anthony Ingraffea and Chris Faulkner
• Top energy industry role players including: Shell, Challenger Energy (Australia), NT Energy Africa,  iGas and Breitling Oil and Gas (USA)
• Interact via panel discussions and an open-to-the-public forum enabling engagement between key role players and interested members of the public
• Hear from public and environmental awareness groups on the challenges and concerns around shale gas development

Key international and local energy experts including:

• Chris Faulkner, Chief Executive Officer, Breitling Oil and Gas, USA
• Professor Terry Engelder, Professor of Geosciences, Penn State University, USA
• Professor Maarten De Wit, Chair, Africa Earth Observatory Network, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
• Bonang Mohale, Chairman and Country General Manager: Commercial, Shell South Africa
• Ivo Vegter, Columnist, Daily Maverick
• Dr. Luke Havemann, Director, Havemann Inc
• Jonathan Deal, Chairperson, Treasure the Karoo Action Group
• Saliem Fakir, Head of the Living Planet Unit, World Wildlife Fund: South Africa
• Dr. Mike De Pontes, Chief Operating Officer, iGas
• Henri Thompson, Managing Director: South Africa, Challenger Energy (formerly Sunset Energy)
• Dr. Brian Horsfield, Head of Section: Organic Geochemistry, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Germany
• Chris Mumby, Managing Director, NT Energy Africa
• Mthozami Xiphu, Chief Executive Officer, Petroleum Agency SA
• Dr. Daniel Mikes, Sedimentologist, Department of Earth Sciences, Stellenbosch University

Who should attend

• Energy Specialists
• Energy Officers
• Energy Generation Managers
• Energy Analysts
• Chief Executive Officers
• Managing Directors
• Technical Directors
• Engineers
• Regulatory Managers
• Metallurgists
• Safety Engineers
• Principal Engineers
• Maintenance Engineers