Rhino Oil and Gas – EIA for Exploration Right (ER) (ER reference: 377)

Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (ROGESA) has lodged an application for an Exploration Right (ER) to explore for natural gas in the northern Free State Province, South Africa. The ER application has been submitted to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) on behalf of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) in terms of Section 79 of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (No. 28 of 2002) (MPRDA).

The ER extends across an area of ~150 000 hectares and includes ~ 870 properties. A locality plan and list of farms is available for download from SLR (see details below). ROGESA’s primary objective is to gather an enhanced dataset to inform future exploration activities. Proposed works includes an aeromagnetic survey and drilling a maximum of 20 exploration wells in the ER area to confirm presence of gas.

SLR Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd has been appointed as the independent environmental assessment practitioner responsible for undertaking the required environmental assessment and conducting the public participation process.

Status

On behalf of Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (Rhino), notice is hereby given that on 30 June 2025 the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) granted and issued an Environmental Authorisation for the above-mentioned project in terms of the National Environment Management Act, 1998 (No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations 2014.

A copy of the Environmental Authorisation is can also be downloaded from the SLR website (see below). The Environmental Authorisation outlines, amongst others, the decision, the activities authorised, conditions of authorisation, reasons for the decision and the appeal process in terms of the National Appeals Regulations 2025.

Your attention is drawn to your right to lodge a formal appeal with the Appeal Administrator. In terms of Regulation 4(1) and 4(2) of the National Appeals Regulations 2025, an appellant must, within twenty (20) days from the date that the notification of the decision was sent to the registered Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) (i.e., 20 days from 30 June 2025). Refer to notification on the SLR website for more information.