https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Bundu expects shale gas exploration right decision this year

2nd March 2015

By: Mariaan Webb

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

  

Font size: - +

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Unconventional gas explorer Challenger Energy expects to hear by the third or second quarter of this year whether its subsidiary, Bundu Gas and Oil Exploration, will be allowed to explore for shale gas in South Africa’s Karoo basin.

The ASX-listed company confirmed on Monday that Bundu had lodged an updated environmental management programme (EMP) with the Petroleum Agency South Africa (Pasa) on February 27. This followed a process that included a further round of public consultation in respect of its application for a shale gas exploration right, which it had applied for in 2010.

Challenger MD Robert Willes said in a statement that South Africa’s Mineral Resources Minister, Advocate Ngoako Ramatlhodi, had 120 days to consider whether to approve Bundu’s EMP.

“Challenger anticipates that a decision may be taken on Bundu's exploration right application in the second or third quarter of 2015.”

The company also drew attention to the announcement in South African Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene’s 2015 Budget speech last week that R108-million would be allocated to "research and regulatory requirements for licensing shale gas exploration and hydraulic fracturing". Challenger believed that the statement reinforced government’s commitment to moving forward with shale gas exploration.

Bundu was one of three companies to apply for exploration rights ahead of the institution of a moratorium on shale-gas exploration and development activities – the other companies are Shell, which made applications over three areas, and Falcon Oil and Gas. In October 2014, Pasa notified the applicants that it would proceed with the processing of applications received prior to February 1, 2011, while maintaining the moratorium on new applications.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

SAIMC (Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Control)
SAIMC (Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Control)

Education: Consulting with member companies to obtain the optimal benefits from their B-BBEE spending, skills resources as well as B-BBEE points

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Booyco Electronics
Booyco Electronics

Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (15/03/2024)
15th March 2024 By: Martin Creamer

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:1.367 1.472s - 170pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now