With fracking in the Karoo having received the green light, environmental groups concerned about water contamination and depletion say they will fight tooth and nail to make sure it does not happen. The Department of Water and Sanitation intends issuing fracking licences by September, but may be stopped by court cases brought by the groups. Royal Dutch Shell, Falcon Oil & Gas and Bundu Gas and Oil Exploration are eyeing the exploration of natural gas trapped in shale rock formations in the Karoo.