Will Block 11B/12B create Mossel Bay jobs, locals ask

Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A host of residents from Mossel Bay and surrounding areas gathered at the D' Almeida Community Hall recently to find out more about the proposed offshore gas field development and if it would create jobs for locals.

The proposed project dates back to 2013, when TotalEnergies entered Block11B/12B and made two gas discoveries it hoped to turn into a commercial development. TotalEnergies held a 45% interest in the block with joint venture partners CNR International (20%), QatarEnergy (25%) and Main Street 1549 (Pty) Ltd (10%), which is owned by Africa Energy SA Corp and Arostyle Investments (RF) Limited.

However, on 29 July 2024, TotalEnergies announced its withdrawal from the project, saying in a statement that it "appeared to be too challenging to economically develop and monetise these gas discoveries for the South African market".

Within a few days, the other partners had withdrawn, leaving Main Street as the sole interest holder.
Main Street has since applied for environmental authorisation and associated production activities to develop the offshore gas field and has commissioned SLR Consulting to compile an environmental and social impact assessment (Esia) that is to be submitted by 4 November.

Last Monday, 14 September, locals could walk around the hall, view large infographics and informational posters and speak directly to SLR Consulting personnel about the project.

Mossel Bay Advertiser approached some of the attendees to find out why they were there and the answers were mostly: job creation.

Pat Lombard and Tremaine Harding attended the open day to find out if the project would create jobs for locals in the future. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse

One resident, Pat Lombard, said while he knew Main Street was still at the impact study phase of the project. He also knew that there were many qualified people here in Mossel Bay who are not working and are dependent on offshore work and the local refinery.

"I think it will be at least two and a half years until things get moving on the project. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel for Mossel Bay," he said.

Barry Jacobs, the chief of the Gourikwa Khoi-San clan in the greater Mossel Bay area, said those who run these big projects are not investing enough in the rural areas.

"If all environmental concerns are addressed and the project does not have a detrimental effect on marine life and nature, we support the project, provided that the First Indigenous Nation is also included from the beginning and receives their full stake," said Jacobs.

Lisbon Sono, a community leader in Joe Slovo Village, said he attended only to listen and learn more about the project so he could relay the information back to the community.

Craig Elders, who lives in Heiderand, said he has worked as a chef at an offshore operation for 26 years, so he was curious to find out more and what the plan will be going forward. Elders said there are many Mossel Bay people without jobs who want to know if this project can help or not.

SLR Consulting's GP Kriel said job creation is being investigated. He said SLR is busy with an economic impact assessment that will give an indication of potential jobs the project could create, both direct and indirect.

He said the eventual job creation also depends on the development scenarios, one being gas transported to shore via pipeline, and the second being gas liquefied offshore and then exported to local or international markets.

Either of these scenarios could be preceded by a partial development phase through connecting to existing PetroSA infrastructure and facilities.

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