Proposed Seismic exploration by Tosaco within Block 1, located offshore extending from Alexander Bay to approximately Hondeklip Bay, Northern Cape, has been authorised.

Oceans Not Oil will be appealing this Environmental Authorisation for both 2D + 3D offshore seismic activity in Block 1 in the Northern Cape. It makes no sense in terms of climate change and ghg emission reduction timeframes, its risk to Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecological Support Areas and local fisheries.

Please see that all the documents pertaining to this application can still be found here , despite the environmental assessor (EIMS) resigning from the application.

Please note that ONO will be submitting its appeal by the 6th of April considering the 20 days from email notification on the 17 March 22 and not as previously noted( Please see the details for appealing this seismic survey below. Appeals need to be submitted by the 23rd of March 2022.)

Notice has been given in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (Government Notice R982 as amended), promulgated under the National Environmental Management (Act 107 of 1998-NEMA), that the above- mentioned project was granted an Environmental Authorisation on the 07th March 2022, signed on the 03rd March 2022 by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) for the following:

• Environmental Authorisation (EA) in accordance with the NEMA- Listed activity/ies: GNR 984 Activity 18.

The reasons for the decision provided by the competent authority are provided as an attachment below. A copy of the decision and Environmental Authorisation (EA) is available from the EIMS website: https://www.eims.co.za/public- participation/ . Alternatively, the copy can be requested from EIMS using their contact details below:

• Contact Person: Mr Qaphela Magaqa
• EIMS Reference Number: 1415
• Postal Address: P.O. Box 2083; Pinegowrie; 2123
• Telephone: (011) 789 7170/ Fax: (086) 571 9047
• E-mail: tosacoer@eims.co.za
  
  Please include the project reference number 1415 in all correspondence.Should you wish to Appeal any aspect of the decision, an appeal may be lodged against the decision in terms of the National Appeal Regulations of 2014 (Government Notice R993) within 20 days of the date of this notification (17-03-2022) and must be submitted in writing in the prescribed appeal form obtainable from the relevant appeal administrator. An extract from Chapter 2 of the National Appeals Regulations is presented below for your convenience:4(1) An appellant must submit the appeal to the appeal administrator, and a copy of the appeal to the applicant, any registered interested and affected party and any organ of state with interest in the matter within 20 days from:
  1. a)  the date that the notification of the decision for an application for an environmental authorisation or a waste management licence was sent to the registered interested and affected parties by the applicant; or
  2. b)  the date that the notification of the decision was sent to the applicant by the competent authority, issuing authority or licensing authority, in the case of decisions other than those referred to in paragraph (a).4(2) An appeal submission must be:

a) submitted in writing in the form obtainable from the appeal administrator; and

b) accompanied by-
i. a statement setting out the grounds of appeal;
ii. supporting documentation which is referred to in the appeal submission; and
iii. a statement, including supporting documentation, by the appellant to confirm compliance with regulation 4(1) of these Regulations.

An appeal, including any supporting documentation, must be submitted to the Appeals Administrator, and copies sent to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (Head Office) and the Petroleum Agency SA whose contact details are presented below:

Appeal to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
• Attention: Directorate Appeals and Legal Review
• Email: appealsdirectorate@environment.gov.za
• By Post: Private Bag X447, Pretoria, 0001
• By Hand: Environmental House, Corner Steve Biko and Soutpansberg Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0083

You can down load appeal format forms here:

Copy of the lodged appeal to the Petroleum SA
• Attention: The Chief Executive Officer
• Email: EAappeals@petroleumagencysa.com
• By post: Private Bag x 5111, Tygervalley, 7530

Copy of the lodged appeal to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE)
• Attention: Director: Legal Services
• Email: Pieter.Alberts@dmre.gov.za
• By Facsimile: 086 710 0877
• By Post: Private Bag x 59, Arcadia, 0007
• By Hand: Trevenna Campus, Building 2C, c/o Meintjies and Francis Baard Street, Sunnyside
Further to the communications sent to the registered I&AP’s earlier this week, EIMS no longer act as the EAP for Tosaco on this application. Should you have any queries regarding this application please submit these directly to Tosaco (www.tosacoenergy.com).