11B/12B: It demands scrutiny

BLOCK 11B/12B

Main Street 1549 is seeking environmental authorisation for a maximum reasonable development envelope of the gas-condensate resources discovered in Block 11B/12B, offshore between Mossel Bay and Cape St Francis. [See all relevant information below for submitting your comments to SLR by no later than 15 October 2026.}

The application provides for up to 19 wells in turbid, deep water, drilled through as many as seven campaigns over approximately 11 years, followed by 20–30 years of gas production. It includes major subsea infrastructure, an offshore production facility, 100 km to shore offshore pipeline, with a 13 km onshore pipeline and 1.5 km ‘micro-tunnel’ beneath the coastal zone, condensate exports and, alternatively, a floating offshore LNG facility with export of LNG and condensate by tanker.

This application could establish a new offshore gas production system on our southern coast that could potentially operate into the 2050s. The environmental and global warming stakes are substantial. 

And there is some corporate history that demands scrutiny:

WHO ACTUALLY OWNS BLOCK 11B/12B RIGHT NOW?

Right now, Main Street 1549 holds 10% of the participating interest in Block 11B/12B. The other 90% belongs to TotalEnergies (45%), QatarEnergy (25%) and CNR International (20%), although all three have announced their withdrawal and the transfers still require South African regulatory approval.

Main Street 1549, the operator, is currently owned 49% by Africa Energy Corp and 51% by Arostyle Investments, with Africa Energy also holding 100% of Main Street’s Class B shares. Africa Energy is set to acquire 100% of both the common and Class B shares of Main Street — buying out Arostyle’s stake in Main Street itself entirely. The withdrawing partners’ 90% interest will be split between Main Street (65%) and Arostyle (25%), leaving Main Street — by then wholly owned by Africa Energy — holding a 75% direct participating interest in the Block, with Arostyle holding the remaining 25% directly.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Africa Energy is a Canadian publicly traded oil and gas company and its proposed majority interest opens a network worth exploring since its shareholding includes Deepkloof Limited, Impact Oil & Gas and Africa Oil Corp (now rebranded Meren Energy) and its board includes Impact CEO Siraj Ahmed, Johnny Copelyn who is also non-executive chairman of Impact Oil & Gas and CEO of Hosken Consolidated Investments; and Keith Hill, who spent over 20 years with Lundin Group companies, led Africa Oil Corp as President and CEO from 2009 to 2023, and has served as a non-executive director of Africa Energy since 2011.

THE LUNDIN SOUTH SUDAN CASE.

What the public needs to know: Hill was general manager for Lundin’s Sudan operations during the exact period now before a Stockholm court in a criminal trial charging Ian Lundin (former chairman) and Alex Schneiter (former CEO), along with Lundin Energy/Lundin Oil itself (now Orrön Energy) of complicity (“abetting”) in grave war crimes by the government of Sudan between 1999 and 2003, tied to the military’s role securing Block 5A for Lundin’s oil exploration.

The crimes alleged to have been committed by government forces and militias, on the ground the company operated in, include forced displacement, killing of civilians, the burning of villages and shelters, pillage, destruction of property needed for survival, rape, abduction of children, torture, and enslavement including the recruitment of children.

Trial testimony from co-defendant Alexandre Schneiter names Hill as one of those responsible for security matters in Block 5A. Trial records place Hill at a 1997 meeting with a Sudanese military commander to discuss security, and show him corresponding directly with Sudan’s Minister of Energy in 1999 on arrangements for the military to enter the block. When prosecutors raised minutes from a 13 May 1997 meeting of the Joint Military Commission with Brigadier General Asin Ibrahim on security matters, Schneiter testified that the meeting was led by Hill and resident general manager Dr. Alan Bagi.

Hill is not charged. Both Lundin and Schneiter deny wrongdoing. Judgment is expected in December 2026.

The question is: how much corporate, financial and leadership continuity from the Lundin/Africa Oil/Impact oil-and-gas network is now present in the company seeking to develop one of South Africa’s largest offshore gas discoveries?

And is the South African public entitled to understand that history before a project of this scale is authorised?

OBJECTION /COMMENT INFO

The current comment period runs from 14 September to 15 October 2026. 

SLR Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (SLR) has been appointed by Main Street to undertake the ESIA process for the proposed project

Please submit your comments and objections to:

SLR

Tel: (021) 461 1118, SMS/WhatsApp: 071 586 5881

Email: 11b12bproduction@slrconsulting.com

Website: https://www.slrconsulting.com/public-documents/11b12bproduction/

Post: 5th Floor, 9 Grove Exchange, 170 Main Road, Claremont, 7700