Rhino Oil and Gas – EIA for Exploration Right (ER) (ER reference: 378)

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 ~350 000 hectares and includes ~ 1200 properties. 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 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:

• Hoopstad Public Library: Buiten St, Hoopstad (https://maps.app.goo.gl/gAreLTAQ5NDH4DK3A)
• Tikwana Public Library: Sebokolodi St, Tikwana, Hoopstad (https://maps.app.goo.gl/EXEfdCtUGPXnWCAZ6)
• Bothaville Public Library: 8 Preller Street, Bothaville (https://maps.app.goo.gl/nWzUyMy1DTDav2Ci6)

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.

Website: https://www.slrconsulting.com/public-documents/rhino-oil-and-gas-eia-for-exploration-right-er-er-reference-378/

Data free website:https://slrpublicdocs.datafree.co/public-documents/rhino-oil-and-gas-eia-for-exploration-right-er-er-reference-378/

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.

By registering on the Project database, you consent to SLR managing your information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (No. 4 of 2013). This includes (1) retaining and using your Personal Information as part of a contact database for this and/or other EIAs, (2) contacting you regarding this and/or other EIA processes, (3) disclosing the database to other authorised parties for lawful purposes, (4) processing it for lawful purposes, and (5) including correspondence received in EIA Reports. You may request SLR to delete your personal information from the Project database or exclude comments from EIA Reports at any time.

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.