Oil & gas exploration survey gets green light

Update

SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - Despite massive opposition, the proposed 3D seismic prospecting survey along the Southern Cape coast has been given the green light.

Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) announced its decision on Friday, January 12, 2108.

The survey is set to involve the use of airguns that shoot loud blasts of compressed air through the water and into the seabed.

The planned project is part of an application by Sungu Sungu Oil for an oil and gas exploration right in an area which falls within the 11 224km2 Pletmos Basin.

The project is set to involve a 3D seismic survey in the Pletmos Basin located off the South Coast, roughly between Knysna in the west and Jeffrey’s Bay in the east.

The target area, about 2500km2 of the basin, is located about 12km offshore and reaches up to 60km out to sea just East of Plettenberg Bay and just West of Cape St Francis.

During the public participation process some 400 stakeholder comments were garnered and a petition against the project was signed by 1 186 people.

The main issues raised by stakeholders include that the survey could have significant ecological impacts, specifically on marine fauna, due to the generation of underwater noise and the proximity of areas of environmental importance. The proposed survey area is in the vicinity of nationally and internationally recognised important or protected areas.

Another major concern that was raised was the impact on marine fauna through entanglement in survey equipment or offshore water pollution.

In terms of the National Appeals Regulations, 2014, any party wishing to formally appeal the authorisation must ensure that their written appeal is submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) by February 1, 2108.