260610007602 - Application for Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) \ Exception to Transport Petroleum (Oil and Gas) Drilling, Appraisal and Production Well Testing Operations Hazardous Chemicals from Walvis Bay to the Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) No. 73,

Reconnaissance Energy Namibia (REN) (Pty) Ltd (ReconAfrica), a subsidiary of Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd, holds petroleum exploration rights under Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) No. 73 within the Kavango Sedimentary Basin (KSB), which extends across the Kavango East and West Regions of northern Namibia. The company is currently undertaking oil and gas exploration and appraisal activities and plans to conduct production well testing operations for the Kavango West Exploration 1 (KW 1X) well, together with future exploration and appraisal wells within PEL No. 73. The drilling, appraisal, and production well testing activities require the use of specialised chemicals to ensure operational efficiency, maintain well integrity, protect equipment, and enhance safety. These chemicals include caustic soda products, citric acid, gel detergents, corrosion inhibitors, scavengers, soda ash, and sodium chloride products. Additional chemical requirements are anticipated for future drilling and well testing operations associated with wells planned within PEL No. 73. The required chemicals are imported through the Port of Walvis Bay and transported by road to operational sites located within the Kavango East and West Regions. Consequently, the transportation, handling, storage, and use of these substances require compliance with applicable environmental and hazardous materials legislation. Accordingly, this Environmental Scoping Report, Environmental Management Plan (EMP), and Transport Emergency Response Plan (TERP) have been prepared to support the application for an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) / Exception from the Environmental Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Management Act, 2007 (Act No. 7 of 2007), the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2012, the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 1991 (Act No. 2 of 1991), the Petroleum Laws Amendment Act, 1998 (Act No. 24 of 1998), the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, 1974 (Ordinance No. 14 of 1974), and other relevant legislation. The transportation route extends from Walvis Bay through the Erongo, Otjozondjupa, and Oshikoto Regions before reaching the Kavango East and West Regions. Chemicals will be transported through several towns, including Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Arandis, Usakos, Karibib, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Otavi, and Grootfontein, before arriving at operational sites within PEL No. 73. To minimise environmental, health, and safety risks, the EMP establishes mitigation measures covering chemical classification, packaging, segregation, transportation, handling, unloading, storage, spill prevention, emergency preparedness, and waste management. The TERP provides procedures for incident response, emergency communication, spill containment, and coordination with relevant authorities and emergency services. Implementation of the EMP and TERP will ensure that the transportation and use of hazardous chemicals are undertaken in a safe, responsible, and environmentally acceptable manner and in accordance with national legal requirements and recognised industry standards. Based on the findings of this assessment, the proposed transportation of chemicals from Walvis Bay to PEL No. 73 is considered environmentally acceptable, provided that the mitigation measures and emergency response procedures contained in this report are implemented throughout the project lifecycle.

Commenting of the public on this project will expire at 12h00 on the 2026-06-29

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