PROPOSED OIL AND GAS PROSPECTING
Comments from stakeholders in response to the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration Right application (295 ER):-
A comment from the report:
“As the EAP, SLR has never before encountered such a united and passionate opposition to a project from such a broad range of I&APs. It is vital that this public opinion is taken into consideration through the EIA process, by the applicant and by the decision makers. ” (pg 5-113)
The draft scoping report has been released and is available here.
Please see some appendices here not included in the document:
Fig 5-5 Surface Water resources; Fig 5-6 Vegetation Types; Fig 5-7 Protected and Stewardship Areas; Fig 5-8 Assessment of Biodiversity Status; Fig 5-9 NFEPA Wetlands and Rivers; Fig 5-10 Land Cover and Demarcation
Comments from local stakeholders in response to the draft scoping report include (please click on links below to open the submissions):
SIGN THE PETITION TO SAVE OUR WATER FACTORY
See Matat public participation meeting proceeding in Nov 2015
UCPP response to DSR and public consultation Nov2015 295ER Matatiele
drill field in Delaware catchment, Pennsylvania, USA
An application for oil and gas exploration in the upper Matatiele watershed has been lodged with PASA (Petroleum Association of SA) by ‘Rhino Oil & Gas‘. The period for registration and commentary for the scoping period as IAPs (Interested & Affected Parties) was up to the 10th October 2015. Click here for the background information document (BID).
This exploration application is nt directly for fracking, but should viable deposits be found during exploration, activities related to hydraulic fracturing techniques constitutes a direct threat to water security and quality in the upper catchment. Fracking wells are deep, up to 5km underground, and may intersect with aquifers which supply , into which methane and chemicals (including arsenic) used in the process may be released. Wells can use up to 25 million litres of water to generate hydraulic pressure to release the methane, which is more harmful than CO2 for climate change impacts.
The truth is that the long term impacts of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) are unknown, but there is overwhelming evidence from various countries like Germany, France, Scotland, as well as New York State, which have now banned fracking due to its negative impacts.
Members of UCPP took a stand at their recent quarterly meeting session on the 23rd September to oppose the application on the grounds of its negative impacts on water security: the Matatiele Council has recently adopted a stewardship plan for the Matatiele Local Municipality, which is the strategic water factory for the greater Umzimvubu river catchment and the 1 million people who live in it.
Please read the attached links and YouTube clips and information here, register as an IAP and make sure our water factory for a million people does not become a waste water dump to enrich a few.
Hydraulic Fracturing Report 4.18.11 (1)
SA Fracking Politics and Economics
Witness 19.10.15 Pros and cons of drilling 1,5mln h
Witness 19.10.2015 Dubious gas rights deal
SHELL dont frack the Karoo report 2014 August NL shell report eng rs (1)
For more information on fracking:-
- Compendium of Scientific Medical and Media findings demonstrating risks and harms of fracking
- Geology and human health
- Midlands Conservancy Fracking Page
- Physicians for Social Responsibility Hydraulic Fracking page
- Fracking South Africa News
- South African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute
- http://blog.l2b.co.za/what-the-frack/
- Minimum requirements for regulation of environmental impacts of fracking
- A mining and environment know your rights booklet and community casebook
- A guide to criminal prosecution of environmental crimes
KZN Midlands also under threat: 
Umzimvubu 