Cape Town - As UK company Searcher is attempting for a second time to undertake a seismic survey in South African waters, environmental activists, The Green Connection say their draft basic assessment report raises several environmental concerns.
The organisation has made a submission as an interested and affected party to the draft Basic Assessment Report (BAR) prepared as part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process being undertaken in respect of an application for authorisation by Searcher Geodata UK Ltd (Searcher) to undertake a 3D seismic survey over multiple blocks off the West Coast.
The proposed project area is located between approximately 256km offshore of St Helena Bay, extending north along the western coastline and approximately 220km offshore of Hondeklip Bay over a number of petroleum licence blocks, extending 30 000 km2.
Searcher proposes that a single survey vessel equipped with seismic sources and streamers be used. The proposed 3D survey would be supported by one escort vessel. It is estimated that the 3D survey will take about 127 days.
The Green Connection’s community outreach coordinator Neville van Rooy outlined their grievances: “Our main concern with this BAR, at this point, is that Searcher does not seem to have taken the previous judgment into account.
“From what we could gather, there does not seem to be any mention of the fact that they were previously rejected by the courts or why. There is no mention that the judgment found that there was, in fact, a risk of harm to marine ecosystems, which could undermine (as consequence) affect the livelihoods of the people on the ground.
“Climate change is a reality. However, in this second round, it seems that Searcher has again not properly assessed the social and environmental consequences of continuing along a fossil-driven path.
“That’s why, for The Green Connection, Searcher’s second attempt to conduct seismic surveys and offshore oil and gas exploration is a fail and, as such, we believe that the relevant authorities should not grant them a permit to carry on.”
Among the concerns highlighted in their submission are the ecological and economic risk of a major oil spill, the climate crisis and seismic surveys causing direct and indirect physical harm to individual species and marine ecosystems and inefficacy of mitigation measures.
In a statement, Searcher said it has conducted a comprehensive consultation process for the new proposed South African survey. "Given the consultation reach we have achieved we have received extensive comments regarding the values and sensitivities of the proposed seismic survey area and the functions, interests and activities of potential interested and affected parties (I&APs).
"We have listened intently to all potentially affected I&APs including Green Connection and our now in the process of updating our Environment Plan to ensure that we have addressed all potential concerns and, where relevant, added new mitigation measures to address these concerns."
Searcher also said they welcomed the opportunity to further engage with Green Connection and all I&APs to further discuss their proposed activities to ensure they can address any concerns.
Cape Times