Withdrawal – Exploration Right application for the area 291ER (midlands) and abandon 317ER (northern KZN).
RHINO OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION SOUTH AFRICA – APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION WITH REGARDS TO AN EXPLORATION RIGHT APPLICATION FOR PETROLEUM ON VARIOUS FARMS IN THE KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE (12/3/291 ER): WithDrawal oF Application
RHINO OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION SOUTH AFRICA – APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION WITH REGARDS TO AN EXPLORATION RIGHT APPLICATION FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ON VARIOUS FARMS IN NORTHERN KWAZULU-NATAL (12/3/317 ER): Abandonment oF Authorisation
Notice has been received of the decision by Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Rhino Oil & Gas) to withdraw their Exploration Right application for the area 291ER (midlands) and abandon 317ER (northern KZN).
Rhino Oil and Gas provided the following statement which explains the reason for their not proceeding: “Rhino has, upon evaluation of a number of geological and geophysical datasets during the course of the Technical Cooperation Permit and Exploration Right phases, produced an interpretation of the hydrocarbon potential within the areas known as ER291 and ER317. In-house interpretation of the data, along with independent external review of the data and interpretation, has lead Rhino to believe that the geological risk is too high for economically feasible hydrocarbon development in these areas. It is on this basis that a technical recommendation was made to relinquish these areas”.
Rhino Oil and Gas advised that the 291ER application has been formally withdrawn and 327ER has been abandoned at the Petroleum Agency of South Africa. As a result the file on this application is closed.
ADVANCE NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION REQUIRED FOR AN EXPLORATION RIGHT FOR PETROLEUM ON VARIOUS FARMS IN THE FREE-STATE AND KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCES (350 ER)
Please be informed that Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (Pty) Ltd has lodged an application for an Exploration Right (ER) to explore for “Petroleum and Gas” with the Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA) in terms of section 79 of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA).
Minerals included in the application are oil, gas, condensate, coal bed methane, helium and biogenic gas. The ER application area is located roughly between the Upper Tugela region of KwaZulu-Natal, north past Harrismith to just north of Warden in the Free State. The ER application area extends westward, from Harrismith, past Kestell to Bethlehem. In the north the ER application area extends from Warden past Reitz up to Lindley (see the attached Figures and Farm list). The application area falls within both the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Rhino Oil & Gas currently holds Technical Co-operation Permit (TCP) 165 over this area. The ER application is for undertaking early-phase exploration, which is aimed at indicating the presence of petroleum and gas resources that could warrant further exploration. The initial exploration work programme would be restricted to desktop data review and the undertaking of an aerial survey. No on-the-ground exploration activities are proposed and no access is required to any land.
SLR Consulting (Pty) Ltd (SLR) are appointed as the environmental assessment practitioner. The current phase of the S&EIA process involves notification and consultation with potentially interested or affected parties and scoping of the issues. The primary objective of the Scoping process is to identify the key issues that need to be addressed in the assessment phase that will follow.
Documents available include:
- The BID and relevant documents which can be downloaded from the SLR website (www.slrconsulting.com/za/slr-documents). The BID is also available in Afrikaans, seSotho and isiZulu upon request.
As part of the initial phase of the public consultation you are invited to attend any of the following information-sharing meetings:
| Date | Venue | Time |
| 7 October 2019 | NG Kerk, Reitz West | 15:30 |
| 8 October 2019 | Lindley Hotel | 09:00 |
| 8 October 2019 | Danielsrus Farmers Union Hall, Bethlehem | 15:30 |
| 9 October 2019 | Kestell Town Hall | 09:00 |
| 9 October 2019 | Warden Farmers Union Hall | 15:30 |
| 10 October 2019 | La La Nathi, Harrismith | 09:00 |
| 10 October 2019 | Bergville Country Club Hall | 15:30 |
If you or your organisation would like to register as an interested and affected party and/or wish to raise any initial issues or concerns regarding the proposed project, please contact SLR at the contact details below/in the BID.
You must register if you wish to participate in the environmental assessment process for the project.
SLR CONTACT DETAILS:
PO Box 1596, Cramerview, 2060
Tel: (011) 467 0945 Fax: (011) 467 0978
E-mail: 7201803400016@slrconsulting.com
Kwanalu will continue attending to this matter and look forward to receiving inputs from members. Kwanalu has been proactive and supported and entered into legal actions regarding the previous applications. Kwanalu remains in discussion with numerous relevant persons, institutions, and legal practitioners in order to attend to this matter.
A reminder should anyone wish to access your property the On Farm Protocol must be applied. This protocol can also be found on our website.
Please feel free to provide us with any information, recommendations or inputs by email: info@kwanalu.co.za.
Be assured of Kwanalu’s commitment to its members on this matter.
2019-09-19_Rhino 350 ER – BID English final
