CARBON CAPTURE UTILISATION AND STORAGE PROJECT: 3D SEISMIC SURVEY AND DRILLING – Notice of review of Draft Abbreviated Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report
Project Background
The Council for Geoscience (CGS) is undertaking a geoscientific research project for the piloting of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) in Leandra in the Mpumalanga Province, where it is proposed to inject carbon dioxide (CO2) into deep suitable geological formations, approximately 1km below the surface.
The Government of South Africa (SA) has partnered with the World Bank to finance the CCUS Project and hereby intends to conduct geological characterisation comprising of drilling a stratigraphic well and undertaking a high-resolution 3D seismic survey at the proposed injection site, as well as supporting structures. This notification only focuses on the geological characterisation component of the overall CCUS Project and not on the CO2 injection phase, which is being assessed separately.
3D Seismic Survey and Drilling
The project site falls under the Gert Sibande District Municipality and is located within Wards 1, 2 and 6 of the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality. The R29 runs through the central part of the overall project area. The GPS coordinates of the approximate centre of the proposed drill site are 26°22’4.84″S, 28°56’19.47″E.
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
Nemai Consulting (Pty) Ltd was appointed by the CGS to undertake an abbreviated Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the 3D seismic survey and stratigraphic drilling required as part of the CCUS Project. The ESIA must satisfy the requirements of the WB Operational Policies as well as the SA environmental legal requirements.
Review of Draft Abbreviated ESIA Report
The draft abbreviated ESIA Report will be made available to stakeholders to review from 12 July until 14 August 2023.
The draft abbreviated ESIA Report can be accessed as follows:
- Hardcopies of the report will be placed in the following public places –
- Leandra Public Library;
- Lebohang Public Library; and
- Secunda Public Library.
- An electronic copy was uploaded to the following website, for downloading purposes: https://nemai.co.za/downloads/.
Written comments on the report need to be forwarded to the contact person below within the abovementioned period.
Also read: Legal Notice – CARBON CAPTURE UTILISATION AND STORAGE (CCUS) PROJECT
Contact Details of Environmental Assessment Practitioner:
You are welcome to contact the Environmental Assessment Practitioner below if you have any queries.
Contact Person: Donavan Henning
Tel: (011) 781 1730
Email: donavanh@nemai.co.za Postal Address: PO Box 1673, Sunninghill, 2157
