Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

Afro Energy (Pty) Ltd (Afro Energy) applied in terms of Section 79 of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA) for an exploration right to explore for natural gas.

The proposed project would entail 240 000ha of land in respect of various farms located within the magisterial districts of Fezile Dabi, Thabo Mofutsanyane and Gert Sibande in the Free State and Mpumalanga Province.

In June 2025, the DMRE granted an environmental authorisation to Afro Energy for its exploration right ER383. On behalf of its clients, the Free State Environmental Network (FSEJN), CER submitted an appeal challenging the authorisation in terms of Section 43 of NEMA in July 2025.

The grounds of appeal are based on:

1. the failure to comprehensively consider climate change;
2. the failure to adequately consider air quality impacts;
3. the failure to adequately consider groundwater impacts;
4. the failure to adequately consider socio-economic impacts;
5. the fact that the project is not needed nor desirable;
6.  the failure to conduct adequate public participation;
7. the fact that it is irrational and dangerous to authorise projects with egregious impacts when the state lacks the resources and capacity to adequately ensure compliance with the conditions of the EA and environmental laws.

Documents

1. Cover letter to the appeal dated 28 July 2025
2. Annexure A – Grounds of Appeal
3. Appeal Response Report – with Appellants’ grounds of appeal in the DFFE prescribed form
4. The prescribed Appeal questionnaire with letters of mandate attached thereto