The vexed question of the need for economic development to revive Northern KZN’s flagging economy versus ecological concerns was vividly brought out into the open at last week’s public meeting on Rhino Oil and Gas’s proposal to drill in a huge swathe of land.
While the dreaded fracking word was bandied about and several protesters carried posters warning of the dangers of fracking (hydraulic mining), those who made the presentation from Rhino Oil and Gas and their consultant, made it clear that the current application ‘is only concerned about permission to drill ten exploratory holes on the 2-million hectares of land identified’.
“Clearly, we would prefer not to use fracking … we would be unpopular and I am still young in my career,” Rhino’s geo-scientist, Travis Smithard, told the meeting at the Dundee High School hall that was packed mainly with farmers and those involved in battlefields tourism.
He said ‘first prize’ would be to access oil and gas (if sufficient evidence of such a resource was found) using t conventional drilling methods.

Those who attended were completely against any kind of exploration work in the area for fear that it would contaminate water (‘the current drought is only exacerbating feelings’ said Wasbank farmer, Carl Simpson), compromise safety on farms and badly dent agricultural production (Helpmekaar farmer, Craig Carter) and possibly compromise battlefield and heritage sites – strongly stated by Andrew Rattray of Fugitives Drift Lodge and museum curator, Pam McFadden.
SLR environmental consultant, Matthew Hemming, was repetitively at pains to point out that the purpose of such a public meeting was to document as many concerns as possible so that ‘an informed decision can by made by the Government as to allow the exploratory drilling to go ahead or not’.
Herman de Wet of the Umzinyathi Farmers Association was concerned that heavy trucks and drill equipment would damage farm roads and cause erosion.
Ian de Jager of Hattingspruit wanted to know if Rhino Oil and Gas would contribute to a fund to compensate farmers who experience losses due to the exploratory drilling on their farms. He was also concerned that because of ‘the deep pockets of the Texas-based company, local farmers would never be able to fight them in court’.

Local geologist, Kevin Petzer, was outspoken in saying the company was wasting their time drilling for oil and gas and that if they wanted to ‘make money they should rather open a fish and chip shop’.
Notice of the meeting ‘was vague’
Frans Joubert of Helpmekaar said that the first time that he became aware of the public meeting at the High School was when he read it on the front page of the Courier. He believed that the company’s intentions are ‘vague’ and expressed concern that land owners would be ‘steamrolled’ in the process.
Mr Hemming said notices were put up in public areas such as libraries and broadcast on radio station. No official notice was given to the Courier.
Commenting on water concerns, Mr Smithard said once the exploratory drilling is completed, the holes will be encased in concrete to ensure that water contamination is ‘limited to almost zero percent’.
Access to land will be by consent of the owner and individual agreements, relating to heritage sites, water sources etc., would be drawn up between Rhino and the land owner. “We have asked for an application of almost 2-million hectares – incorporating over 5000 farms – as we need that much land to determine the viability of drilling for oil and gas.
“Only ten boreholes will be drilled in the exploratory phase to determine the nature of the resource.”

Desktop technology, seismic surveys and full tenor gradiometry gravity survey – via an aircraft – to take images of the subsurface geology will also be done – which will require not direct access to land, Mr Smithard told the meeting.
Pam McFadden said in the past 163 coal mines had operated in the Northern KZN area – the archives of which are stored at Talana Museum, and wanted to know if the old boreholes could be used to check for oil and gas without going through ‘a whole new process’.
However, Mr Smithard said the geological formations related to oil and gas were quite different to that of coal – hence the application to drill the exploratory holes.
Once all the concerns are documented – from the series of public meetings in the area – the report would be available to all interested parties.