Rhino - Proposed Exploration Well Drilling in Licence Block 2914A off the coast of southern Namibia

Rhino Resources Namibia Ltd. (Rhino) is the holder of an Exploration Licence for Licence Block 2914A, located off the southern coast of Namibia. Licence Block 2914A covers an area of approximately 5 338 km2 and is located 140 km offshore at its closest point in water depths ranging from 200 m to 1 800 m.
Rhino is now applying to for an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for the drilling of up to 10 exploration and/or appraisal wells within the Block to confirm and test the presence and quality of hydrocarbon resources. Related exploration activities include vertical seismic profiling (VSP), well testing, and well abandonment.

Before the proposed exploration activities can commence, Rhino requires an ECC from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT). As part of this process, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) must be undertaken. SLR Environmental Consulting (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd (SLR) has been appointed to undertake and manage the ESIA process.

Status

This Draft ESIA Report forms part of the Impact Assessment Phase of the ESIA process and has been compiled and distributed for public review and comment period until 3 June 2024 to provide Interested and Affected Parties (I&AP) with an opportunity to comment on any aspect of the proposed project and ESIA process, and findings thereof. A full copy of the report is available for download below.

Any comments should be sent to SLR using this online form or e-mail address shown above. For comments to be addressed and included in the Final ESIA Report, comments should reach SLR by no later than 3 June 2024.

All stakeholders are also invited to attend the upcoming public meetings in Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Lüderitz:

• Windhoek: 13 May 2024,14:00-16:00, Namibian Scientific Society
• Lüderitz: 14 May 2024, 11:00-13:00, Nest Hotel
• Walvis Bay: 15 May 2024, 10:00-12:00, Indongo Protea Hotel