NOTIFICATION: DECISION ON APPEALS LODGED AGAINST A DECISION TO GRANT ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION TO AFRICA OIL SA CORP, RICOCURE (PTY) LIMITED AND AZINAM LIMITED, FOR THE PROPOSED BLOCK 3B/4B OFFSHORE EXPLORATION, OFF THE WEST COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA.

On 13 October 2026, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) issued its decision on the appeals (appeal decision) against the environmental authorisation (EA) granted to Africa Oil SA Corp, Ricocure (Pty) Limited and Azinam Limited (the applicants) for the proposed Block 3B/4B offshore exploration activities (the proposed project).

The decision was to:

  1. Dismiss the appeals, subject to the inclusion of additional conditions. In summary these additional conditions require the applicants, before drilling begins, to establish and maintain an accessible Fisheries Claims Assistance Mechanism to assist commercial, small-scale and subsistence fishers with verified loss claims, supported by clear claims procedures, reasonable evidence requirements and timelines, independent dispute resolution, ongoing socio-economic monitoring and quarterly stakeholder engagement.
  2. Confirm the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources’ (DMPR) decision of 16 September 2024 to grant the applicants an EA for the proposed project.
  3. Instruct the DMPR to amend the EA to incorporate the additional conditions specified in the appeal decision.

A copy of the appeal decision is available by following this LINK (CLICK HERE). 

 

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