The first step in possible oil and gas exploration has been made after the Department of Mineral Resources last week granted environmental authorisation to Rhino Oil and Gas to conduct an aerial survey of around 870 000 ha on various farms in Northern KwaZulu-Natal. Matthew Hemming of SLR Consulting, who conducted the environmental impact assessment, EIA, told the Courier that although the DMR has granted the Environmental Authorisation (EA), a decision on the Exploration Right has not been made i.t.o. the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act.

“This is stated in condition 5.3.1 of the Environmental Authorisation. The Exploration Right decision can only happen once the appeal period on the Environmental Authorisation has passed (or any appeals have been decided). “Until this is in place Rhino Oil and Gas would not be in a position to plan the aerial surveys,” he said. In the current application, Rhino Oil and Gas is proposing and has only sought

In the current application, Rhino Oil and Gas is proposing and has only sought authorisation for remote exploration techniques (including analysis of existing data and an aerial full tensor gradiometry gravity survey). Thus no wells, permeability testing, pressure testing or hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) are proposed as part of the current three-year exploration programme. Should Rhino Oil and Gas propose to conduct other exploration activities in future this would need to be informed by a further application to Petroleum Association of South Africa (PASA) and a separate environmental assessment and authorisation process. Appeals must be lodged within 20 days with the Department of Environmental Affairs, Private Bag X447, Pretoria 0001 or email: appealsdirectorate@environment.gov.za.

Should Rhino Oil and Gas propose to conduct other exploration activities in future this would need to be informed by a further application to Petroleum Association of South Africa (PASA) and a separate environmental assessment and authorisation process. Appeals must be lodged within 20 days with the Department of Environmental Affairs, Private Bag X447, Pretoria 0001 or email: appealsdirectorate@environment.gov.za.