Sasol pushes for drilling near Bazaruto
Sasol has confirmed its renewed ambition to explore and drill test wells in Mozambique’s richest fishing grounds, on the boundary of a prime tourist destination — Bazaruto Archipelago National Park.
Fringed by soft white beaches, coral reefs and clear blue waters, the islands of Bazaruto are a popular tropical getaway for South Africans and other tourists.
It is also one of the last areas in Africa where visitors have a good chance of seeing endangered dugongs, which were once a common sight in the shallow waters stretching from Somalia to southern Mozambique.
After being rebuffed a decade ago by Mozambican authorities because of the area’s environmental sensitivity, the energy and chemicals company recently initiated a new consultation process to conduct underwater sound-blasting and drilling.
According to a pre-feasibility and scoping study commissioned by Sasol and completed in June, the company’s Mozambique subsidiary was awarded offshore exploration and concession rights in 2005 for an area known as blocks 16 and 19. It conducted extensive 3D seismic tests in deepwater sections of these blocks.
However, due to the environmental sensitivity of exploration in shallow-water sections adjacent to the national park, exploration was suspended in 2008 until the Mozambican authorities published a strategic environmental assessment.
The new scoping study by Golder Associates notes that because this assessment has not been published yet, Sasol decided to “take the initiative” regarding renewed seismic exploration adjacent to Bazaruto.
Sasol says no shallow-water exploration has been done so far, but Golder has already appointed a project team of at least 26 consultants and held initial public consultation meetings to take into account and address concerns regarding future activities.
Sasol communication manager Alex Anderson said: “There are currently no contractual exploration commitments in the licence and no immediate plans to conduct seismic or exploration activities.
“Sasol, as an environmentally conscious company will do its best to protect the environment, including its marine life, and minimise any potential environmental affect.
“The specific actions to protect marine life will be informed and guided by the outcome of the environmental affect study,” he added.
“We undertake exploration activities according to international best-practice standards and in accordance with local laws, within the parameters set out by competent authorities, and engage in dialogue with stakeholders following locally determined norms, as well as recognised best practices.”
Golder says: “If hydrocarbon reserves are found to be economic, Sasol’s intention is to exploit these reserves to expand existing markets and to develop new markets in both Mozambique and southern Africa.”
Several local stakeholders from the tourism, conservation and fisheries sectors have registered strong opposition to any Sasol exploration or future production in the Bazaruto area.