Page 9 - AfrOil Week 37 2019

AfrOil POLICY AfrOil
 Operation Phakisa aims to promote the devel- opment of the country’s marine resources, including offshore oil and gas fields, without compromising environmental protection.
Under the environmental authorisation, Eni and Sasol will be able to drill six exploration wells within two sections of the block, which straddles the Durban and Zululand Basins. The northern section covers an area of about 1,717 square km, while the southern section covers around 2,905 square km.
Sasol secured an exploration permit for Block ER236 in 2013 from the Petroleum Agency of South Africa. Later, it signed a farm-in deal with Eni that provided for the Ital- ian company to take a minority 40% stake in the project, while also assuming the position of operator.
The partners had hoped to begin drilling earlier, but work has not proceeded as quickly
as anticipated because of delays in obtaining the environmental authorisation. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has been slow to grant the relevant permits because of objec- tions raised during public hearings by environ- mental activists, scientists and representatives of the tourism and fishing industries, as well as other marine operators.
Critics of the Block ER236 project have said they are concerned about pollution and emis- sions from drilling, as well as the potential for disruption of marine habitats. They have also highlighted the risk of oil spills. The govern- ment, by contrast, appears to be motivated by the hope that fast-tracking exploration drilling will speed up efforts to generate new revenue and create jobs.
Block ER236 lies off the coast of South Afri- ca’s Kwazulu-Natal Province. It covers an area of 82,202 square km.. ™
Environmental Resource Management
Week 37 17•September•2019 w w w . N E W S B A S E . c o m P9