Africa Oil community (3B/4B) pamphlet 2

This guide, produced by Natural Justice, provides information to the public regarding a proposed oil and gas exploration project in Block 3B/4B off the west coast of South Africa. It outlines the project's scope, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, potential ecological and social risks, and instructions for public participation.

• A joint venture consisting of Africa Oil SA Corp, Ricocure (Pty) Ltd, and Azinam Limited holds an exploration right granted in 2019 for Block 3B/4B, an area of approximately 17,581 km2 located off the west coast of South Africa. The partners intend to drill up to five exploration wells in a designated Area of Interest (AOI), with each well's drilling and testing expected to take three to four months.
• The project's logistics involve using a semi-submersible drilling unit or drill-ship supported by up to three vessels and helicopter transport via Springbok Airport and Cape Town. Onshore logistics bases are proposed for either the Port of Cape Town or the Port of Saldanha.
• The proposed drilling poses risks to highly sensitive marine areas, including the Childs Bank Marine Protected Area (MPA), which is approximately 50km east of the Area of Interest, as well as the Orange Shelf Edge MPA and the Orange Seamount and Canyon Complex Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area (EBSA). Potential impacts on marine fauna include disorientation, death, respiratory damage, and the masking of biologically important sounds.
• The project may cause significant economic disruption to commercial fishing and maritime logistics, with estimated temporary losses of R184.1 million in employee compensation from the national economy and over R362 million from household incomes.
• The project could disrupt the cultural and spiritual heritage of Indigenous and customary communities in the Northern Cape and Western Cape, specifically small-scale fishers who view the ocean as a living entity and a resting place for ancestors.
• Environmental Impact Management Services (EIMS) predicts the project will create short-term employment, estimating 1,411 formal skilled jobs, 1,743 formal semi-skilled jobs, 1,042 formal low-skilled jobs, and 763 informal jobs. However, these benefits are limited to an operational period of 20 to 24 months.

APA

Natural Justice (n.d.). Africa Oil community (3B/4B) pamphlet 2. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Eng_3B4B-Africa-Oil-Community-Pamphlet_Jan2024.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. Africa Oil community (3B/4B) pamphlet 2. n.d. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Eng_3B4B-Africa-Oil-Community-Pamphlet_Jan2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=Africa Oil community (3B/4B) pamphlet 2 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Eng_3B4B-Africa-Oil-Community-Pamphlet_Jan2024.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljusticendafrica, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{Africa Oil community (3B/4B) pamphlet 2}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Eng_3B4B-Africa-Oil-Community-Pamphlet_Jan2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }