Harmattan - Proposed Exploration Well Drilling in Licence Block 2813B, Orange Basin, off the coast of southern Namibia

Harmattan Energy Ltd., a Chevron affiliate (Harmattan), is the holder of an Exploration Licence for Licence Block 2813B, located southern coast of Namibia. Licence Block 2813B covers an area of approximately 5 433 km2 and is located between 200 km and 290 km offshore in water depths ranging from 2 300 m to 3 300 m.

Harmattan is applying to undertake further exploration and appraisal activities within Licence Block 2813B. The proposed offshore exploration programme includes:

• Drilling up to five exploration wells and five appraisal wells;
• Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) may be undertaken for future wells (none are planned for the first well);
• Well testing; and
• Plugging and abandonment of the wells.

SLR Environmental Consulting (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd (SLR) has been appointed as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake a full Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed additional exploration activities (hereafter collectively referred to as “Environmental and Social Impact Assessment” or “ESIA” process).

Status

SLR has updated the draft ESIA Report into a Final ESIA Report and has been informed, where applicable, by comments received from Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) during the public participation process undertaken on the draft report (12 May to 12 June 2024).

This Final ESIA Report and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) is submitted to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME): Directorate of Petroleum Affairs, as the competent authority, for consideration and review. In terms of Section 32 of the Environmental Management Act, 2007 (No. 7 of 2007), MME is then required to make a recommendation on the application for the ECC to Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT): Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), who will make the final decision on the application.

For information purposes, a copy of the Final ESIA Report can be downloaded below.