It is unacceptable that the Department approved Rhino Oil & Gas’s application for environmental authorisation with the aim of exploration in the Eastern Free State, says Jan van Niekerk, leader of the FF Plus in the Free State.
“Water in South Africa is scarce and pollution of ground water simply cannot be allowed. The FF Plus officially lodged an appeal against the approval of the environmental authorisation seeing as there are no guarantees that the approved activities will not cause irrevocable damage to the environment and sources of water.
“We are particularly concerned about the fact that the area targeted for the drilling of test holes is upriver from the Vaaldam and any pollution in the Vaalriver will have far-reaching effects, especially seeing as the Vaaldam is a source of drinking water for millions of people.
“The approval of the environmental authorisation was not well thought through because the relevant research, which specifies the negative effects of such exploration activities, was not even taken into account. This raises the question of whether the authorisation was indeed above board.
“The FF Plus officially lodged appeals with the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) against the environmental authorisation because it allows for the first step of exploration to take place in the area, which could have numerous adverse effects on the environment, humans and animals.
“In short, the process entails drilling test holes over a large part of the Eastern Free State, which includes Vrede, Warden, Edenville, Heilbron, Frankfort, Reitz and Steynsrus.
“These holes are then filled with various chemicals that are used for conducting tests. Although the chemicals are pumped out of the test holes afterwards, undoubtedly some of it will remain behind and that could possibly pollute the ground water, which could affect the water table, and make it unsuitable for human and animal consumption.
“It therefore has a great impact on the environment and it cannot be guaranteed that the ground water will not be polluted in the process. The FF Plus finds this extremely worrisome.
“In the past the FF Plus cooperated with farmers, also from the Eastern Free State, and succeeded in obtaining a court order that prevented planned exploration and hydrofracking from taking place in the specific area.
“It is of the utmost importance that we oppose the environmental authorisation and the possible exploration and hydrofracking activities that may follow soon. It will not only have a negative impact on the agricultural activities in the area, but it may also pollute the drinking water, which is already scarce, of millions of people and animals,” says Van Niekerk.
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