Karoo

Commentary

The basin will remain a difficult place to make significant headway while governmental agencies remain the largest single impediment to development. We remain optimistic that progress can be made, but it will only follow resolution of the inevitable issues that will arise from recent offshore successes.

Updated

January 25, 2024

Location

Description

The Karoo basins of south-central Africa evolved during the first-order cycle of Pangea, under the influence of two distinct tectonic regimes sourced from the southern and northern margins of Gondwana. The southern tectonic regime was related to orogenic processes along the palaeo-Pacific margin of Gondwana, which resulted in the formation of a retroarc foreland system known as the “main Karoo” Basin; primary mechanisms are represented by flexural and dynamic loading.

Summary

The basin remains largely under explored, and as such, is a highly prospective location. Government department support needs to make South Africa a development location, by streamlining permitting the process.