Concerns about the environmental and ecological consequences of hydraulic
fracturing have accompanied the shale boom in developed countries at the forefront of
shale exploration and production. These environmental and ecological consequences may be
of even greater concern in developing countries with less governance capacity. We
present a conceptual framework that specifies several variables that are expected to
contribute to sustainable hydraulic fracturing. We use the framework to characterize
prospects for sustainable hydraulic fracturing in South Africa and Botswana. The
framework and evidence clarifies the institutional capacity and institutional challenges
confronting the sub-Saharan African countries as extraction of natural resources using
hydraulic fracturing begins in earnest.
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