PROPOSED OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN FREE STATE: ER377 & ER378

Rhino Oil & Gas Exploration South Africa (Pty) Ltd has applied for two exploration rights, ER377 and ER378, to explore for natural gas, methane, helium, and hydrogen in the Free State Province. The project involves aeromagnetic surveys and the drilling of up to 20 wells, which may require significant water resources and infrastructure. Potential risks identified include water contamination, soil degradation, air pollution, and disruptions to agriculture and cultural heritage. The document emphasizes that the extraction of natural gas contributes to climate change through methane and carbon emissions. Public comments on the Draft EIA Reports are requested by 6 March 2025.

• Rhino Oil & Gas Exploration South Africa (Pty) Ltd is seeking exploration rights for two specific areas in the Free State: ER377, covering approximately 221,018 hectares between Koppies, Heilbron, Edenville, and Kroonstad, and ER378, covering approximately 49,000 hectares between Bothaville, Hoopstad, and Wesselbron.
• Proposed exploration activities include aeromagnetic surveys and the drilling of up to 20 wells using an onshore rig, with each well taking three to four weeks to complete. For ER377, it is estimated that five boreholes will use approximately 700,000 litres of water over five months.
• The project poses several environmental and social risks, including the depletion and contamination of local water supplies, soil degradation affecting agriculture, air pollution from gas flaring and machinery, and the disturbance of traditional lands and heritage sites.
• The exploration of natural gas is identified as a climate risk because it involves a fossil fuel that contributes to global warming, specifically through methane emissions, which may exacerbate existing climate-related risks in the Free State such as drought and water scarcity.

APA

Natural Justice (2025). PROPOSED OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN FREE STATE: ER377 & ER378. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Rhino-Oil-Info-Pamphlet_FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. PROPOSED OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN FREE STATE: ER377 & ER378. 2025. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Rhino-Oil-Info-Pamphlet_FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=PROPOSED OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN FREE STATE: ER377 & ER378 |date=February 2025 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Rhino-Oil-Info-Pamphlet_FINAL.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljustice2025proposed, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{PROPOSED OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN FREE STATE: ER377 \& ER378}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Rhino-Oil-Info-Pamphlet_FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }