The scope of the Rhino Gas proposal for exploration rights for natural gas and oil in the area has been greatly reduced.
Speaking at stakeholders meeting at the Dundee High School hall recently, Phillip Steyn, vice president and chief operating officer of the Texas-based company, told a small crowd and mainly local farmers, that the proposed exploration area is now 850 000 hectares, covering 6700 properties in KZN.
All protected areas such as heritage sites, environmentally sensitive areas have now been excluded.
Earlier, an area of 1 500 000 hectares had been earmarked in the province. Following a series of community meetings in KZN, where residents gave their input on the proposed project, over 3500 pages of comments were considered by the environmental consultants, SLR.

Locally, there are properties both north and south of Dundee where Rhino will initially conduct aerial full tensor gravity gradiometry (FTG) to survey the possibility of oil and gas reserves on the identified areas.
This will be done from a light aircraft at an altitude of between 80 metres and 300 metres. Once this data has been analysed, target sites for core hole drilling could be done, Mr Steyn said.
However, should the company wish to drill, there would have been to another environmental impact report that would need public comment and ultimately, Government approval.
This will be a long-term programme of at least three years and if the results are positive, it could be another seven years – if the application is approved – before there is any ‘action in the area’.
It is the drilling proposal that has farmers twitchy – as they fear that fracking may release contaminants into their already scarce water resources.
Matthew Hemming of SLR agreed that all public meetings hosted by Rhino had shown that the public is strongly opposed to such a project.
“With new technology that is improving all the time, the company can give stronger guarantees of the safety of the project. Obviously, should there be positive finds of gas and oil the implications for the economy would be enormous.
“Right now, Rhino does not know the extent of the reserves but if they do not explore they will never know.”
Herman de Wet who farms in the Rorke’s Drift area said farmers are greatly concerned that any fracking and associated drilling would ruin the water and the soil, meaning farmers will not be able to produce ‘food or fibre’.
“You can’t give a 100% guarantee that the drilling of the wells will have no impact. We are also concerned that the politicians may steamroll the whole thing through.”

Water is their biggest asset and they fear any drilling may lead to contamination.
Travis Smithard, Rhino’s chief geologist, said there have been ‘tremendous developments in technology with the sealing of the core holes using a cement casing to prevent any leakage of contaminants into the underground water’.
“Hydraulic drilling was first used 65 years ago. But great strides have been made for environmental safety. Hence, the UK has now given fracking the go-ahead. Of the 12 000 wells drilled in the USA the contamination factor is less than 1%.”
Although farmers will first have to grant permission for any access to their land, should the aerial survey prove successful and the next step of the environmental process is approved, farmers such as Carl Simpson, At van Coller, Jan Labuschagne and Mr de Wet were not convinced.
Water is their biggest asset and they fear any drilling may lead to contamination. Mr Labuschagne commented that seepage from abandoned coal mines had seriously polluted the water on his Wasbank farm and no one was accountable.
Mr Steyn agreed that previously, the environmental legislation was non-existent and allowed mine owners to ‘do their own thing with impunity’.
“The environmental legislation in South Africa is now one of the tightest and best in the world. Rhino is certainly not here to pollute anyone’s water. We are a caring company who wants the best for all.’The meeting ended on a magnanimous note with the farmers shaking hands with the Rhino officials.
More meetings are expected in the coming months and those who are interested should check the Courier for updates.