Rhino Oil and Gas – EIA for Exploration Right (ER) (ER reference: 379)

Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (ROGESA) has lodged an application for an Exploration Right to explore for natural gas in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The ER application has been submitted to Petroleum Agency 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 ~250 000 hectares and includes ~ 1500 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 minimum of two (2) exploration wells in the ER area to confirm presence of gas.

Notice is given of the intention to apply for an Environmental Authorisation and undertake a public participation process in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014 (GN.R 982 of 2014). In terms of the EIA Regulations 2014, the proposed project requires Environmental Authorisation as it triggers Activity 18 of EIA Regulation Listing Notice 2 of 2014, and is subject to a Scoping and EIA process.

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. The application will be subject to a scoping and environmental impact assessment process as stipulated in the EIA Regulations, 2014 made under Section 24(5) of the NEMA. The Scoping Report will be made available for review for review following the submission of the Application for Environmental Authorisation.

Status

NOTICE OF EIA

Notice is hereby given, in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998), that the draft Scoping Report prepared for the proposed project has been made available for a 30-day public review and comment period from 7 August 2024 – 9 September 2024.

A hardcopy of the draft Scoping Report is available at the following locations:

• Thusiville Library: Ermelo: 346 OR Tambo St, Wesselton Ext 2, Ermelo, 2351 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/C3tibsd9Gkx3diBY6)
• Amersfoort Municipality: Bree St, Amersfoort, 2490 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/12EcwZgDKDCQqYUW6)

An electronic copy of the Scoping Report and Non-Technical Summary (NTS) is available below.

Any comments on the draft Scoping Report should be forwarded to SLR at the address, telephone or e-mail address shown above. For comments to be included in the final Scoping Report, they should reach SLR by no later than 9 September 2024.

All stakeholders are invited to attend either one of the following public meetings to discuss the project:

Thursday, 05 September 2024

09:00 - 11:00

Ermelo Inn, Cnr. Kerk & Fourie Street, Ermelo

or

Friday, 13 September 2024

09:00 - 11:00

Ermelo Inn, Cnr. Kerk & Fourie Street, Ermelo

Website: https://www.slrconsulting.com/public-documents/rhino-oil-and-gas-eia-for-exploration-right-er-er-reference-379/

Data free website:https://slrpublicdocs.datafree.co/public-documents/rhino-oil-and-gas-eia-for-exploration-right-er-er-reference-379/

Address: PO Box 1596, Cramerview, 2060

Tel: 011 467 0945

To register as an interested and/or affected party (I&AP) for this EIA, please scan the QR code and complete the online form. Alternatively, please contact SLR for a registration form using the details provided above.

Registered I&APs will be notified when the Scoping Report is released for comment. Please ensure you register on the project database to receive future notices.