Page 11 - AfrOil Week 12 2022

AfrOil POLICY AfrOil

Tosaco Energy wants to collect 2D and 3D seismic data from the licence area known as Block 1 (Image: EIMS)
She also called on other South African NGOs communities dependent on small-scale fishing
to join ONO in fighting against the plans for activity, it said. Additionally, it has alleged that
conducting seismic operations off the Northern the process does not give stakeholders enough
Cape area, saying that opponents of the projects opportunities to comment before seismic per-
could have a bigger impact if they joined forces. mits are granted.
“Our appeal will go through the appeal process. Andy Pienaar, a representative of the Kobush
It will be good if many and robust appeals are Development Association in the Northern Cape,
submitted. Then Forestry, Fisheries and the aired a similar complaint. He said that members
Environment Minister Barbara Creecy will of his community felt they had been excluded
authorise and then we will go to court,” she told from the process that led to Tosaco securing
the Daily Maverick. authorisation for the seismic study.
As of press time, it was not clear whether “[While] some of the information had been
any other NGOs had taken up Solomon’s call translated, we, as the community, did not find
to file objections to the authorisation granted the information very accessible,” Pienaar told
to Tosaco for the seismic study. Nevertheless, the Daily Maverick. “We expect, as is required
the Daily Maverick indicated that sympathy for by NEMA [the National Environmental Man-
ONO’s position was widespread amongst South agement Act], that communities who may be
African environmental groups. affected by the proposed project should be thor-
It noted, for example, that The Green Con- oughly involved and understand the informa-
nection had already spoken out against certain tion presented. This way, we would be in a better
aspects of the environmental impact assessment position to participate in meaningful ways and
(EIA) process. This group has complained that ensure that our inputs are also heard and valued.
the current version of the process pays insuffi- As such, every effort should be made to ensure
cient attention to the potential consequences of that those who may be affected are able to attend
oil and gas exploration on fishing grounds and the discussions.” ™

Zimbabwe, Mozambique agree on

joint gas extraction, processing

ZIMBABWE/MOZAMBIQUE ZIMBABWE and Mozambique have reach an Capital & Power.
agreement in principle on joint development Together, the two sides will extract gas from
and processing of natural gas for use in both the onshore Buzi and Temane fields, which are
countries, according to a report from Energy close to the Mozambique-Zimbabwe border.

Week 12 23•March•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P11