HELP PROTECT THE BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO, MOZAMBIQUE

This call for help comes from Vilankulo tourism operators who have participated in the "Stakeholders Forum". The forum provides the opportunity for public participation and comment in the drafting of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed offshore exploration project in blocks 16 and 19. Sasol's current proposal includes extensive use of seismic surveying to determine the location of undersea hydrocarbon resources.

We support the Government of Mozambique's rights and responsibilities to exploit national hydrocarbon reserves - but are deeply concerned that the BANP and endangered species are not adequately protected from real and potential impacts of hydrocarbon activities.

With your help we will do all we can to ensure that our concerns with the project are adequately addressed before government approval of any offshore exploration project.

The draft EIR is open for public comment until the 28th of June. All comments will be collated into a Comments Report that will be included in the final EIR. Send your comments to Consultec, elanga@consultec.co.mz  Your contribution will help protect an important marine habitat.

Detailed information about the proposed offshore exploration is available at www.erm.com/sasoleia

If you want to do more, contact us and provide your endorsement, suggestions and/or offer of assistance.

Contact us at resist@explorationblock.org  or browse at  www.explorationblock.org

Please forward this document to any other interested parties.

Vilankulo Tourism Sector.
 

      
WE ARE OPPOSED TO SASOL'S EXPLORATION PROPOSAL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

1 Underwater seismic exploration threatens marine life.

Seismic exploration involves 250-decibel explosions of compressed air for a period of 3 months, every 9 - 12 seconds, for 24 hours a day. These explosions can be felt (heard) over large distances. Humans can't dive safely in the immediate vicinity, and most sea life is threatened.

2 The concession area surrounds the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park
and protected areas

The Bazaruto Archipelago contains important marine habitats protected by the law. In our opinion these areas are not adequately protected from negative effects of the proposed exploration project.

3 Offshore exploratory well-drilling is a hazardous activity

In the event of an accident or spillage, liquid or gas hydrocarbons will be dispersed by currents and winds over large areas along the coast, and will certainly affect protected areas.
 

OUR CONCERNS WITH THE CURRENT PROPOSAL INCLUDE:

1. Lack of an adequate buffer zone

The proposed 1500m buffer zone around coral structures is inadequate. The negative effects of seismic exploration on the wildlife and sensitive habitat within the BANP may be minimised by a suitable buffer zone. Buffer zones are common international practise. We believe that a 50 km buffer zone would be adequate.

2. Conflict with the Environment Law of Mozambique

The exploration contract may be in conflict with the Environmental Law of Mozambique (Law 20/97 of 1 October 1997). The Environmental Law restricts activities that negatively affect protected marine species and areas. We believe that the seismic surveys represent the sort of threat envisaged in the Law.

3. Conflict with the Strategic Plan for the Development of
Tourism in Mozambique

We believe the contract undermines the Strategic Plan for the Development of Tourism in Moçambique (2004 - 2013) in the National Park and surrounding areas. The Government of Mozambique has gone to great lengths to develop tourism in Priority Areas for Tourism (PATI's). These plans in the area are at risk of being undone.

4. Lack of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

The Government of Mozambique committed itself in October 2005 to conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the area. We believe that the SEA must be completed before the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is reviewed by the Ministry for the Co-ordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA).

5. Night-time Surveys

Seismic testing needs to be stopped if observers detect marine mammals in the area. Sasol propose 24hr seismic testing using unproven passive-acoustic monitoring technologies to compensate for the lack of visibility at night - their motivation being that it reduces the costs of seismic surveys. We are opposed to night-time seismic surveys.

6. Sasol reserves the right to drill in shallow water

The draft EIR recommends that seismic testing be postponed in waters shallower than 50m adjacent to the BANP area, subject to studies on the endangered Dugong population. Sasol has reserved the right to do exploratory well-drilling in these same waters. We believe that until the studies on the dugong population have been done, no exploratory activity should be undertaken at all.

7. Accidents

While we note Sasol's adoption of international safety standards for the project, accidents do happen. There have been 7 industrial accidents in the past 2 years at Sasol operations. Any accident in the proposed blocks would be catastrophic to this environmentally sensitive area.