ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe has thrown his weight behind fracking as a means to meet South Africa’s growing energy needs.

At a breakfast meeting of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) in Johannesburg, Mantashe discussed government’s investment in energy infrastructure and the need to address the country’s insufficient energy supply, Engineering News reported.

He said fracking in the Karoo would happen, despite resistance from many people. He pointed out that the United States and Canada are doing well in that area, saying that South Africa must import the technology needed to access shale gas because “we need it”.

Mantashe said that the Medupi, Kusile and Ingula power projects are on their way to addressing the insufficient energy supply, but admitted that the Medupi power station should have been completed by now. He also pointed out the benefits of renewable energy contributing to electricity generation.