28 Feb 2021

Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security is concerned about misleading information regarding Reconnaissance Energy Botswana (Recon Botswana) exploration activities in Botswana and in particular, the Okavango Delta area.

Speaking via a virtual press conference recently, Minister Lefoko Moagi advised the public to disregard the misleading publications or articles that alleged that Recon Botswana was planning to start hydraulic fracturing ‘fracking’.

Mr Moagi explained that hydraulic fracturing did not form part of the approved programme of exploration.

He also explained that Recon Botswana was issued with an exploration license under the Petroleum Act to explore for petroleum minerals in the North West District by the ministry on June 1 last year for a period of four years.

He further indicated that terms and conditions of the exploration license required the company to conduct its operations in accordance with good industry practice, in such a manner as to preserve in as far as possible the natural environment, minimise and control waste or undue loss of or damage to natural and biological resources, to prevent and where unavoidable, promptly treat environment pollution and contamination.

Again, Mr Moagi explained that the licensed area did not cover the core and buffer zones for the Okavango Delta and the Tsodilo Hills Heritage sites, because they were protected sites.

He added that the company’s work would be focused on acquiring and processing, analysis and interpretation of gravity and high resolution aeromagnetic data and commissioning of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process as well as obtaining of relevant environmental permits to conduct exploration activities.

“In the first two years of their exploration programme, Recon Botswana has not planned to carry out any invasive methods of prospecting, including drilling and no physical exploration activities during the first year of exploration have been anticipated,” he said.

The company, he said, was at preliminary stages of exploration that was focused on acquiring and processing information, analysis and interpretation of geological data and the commissioning of the EIA as well as obtaining the necessary approvals prior to carrying out any drilling activities.

Moreover, Mr Moagi said government had stringent mining legislation, which required appropriate and best international practices, including environmental protection.

“As such, the ministry does not allow any exploration activities within the core and buffer zones of World Heritage sites.

This undertaking was made by the country as part of the listing process of the Okavango Delta and we will continue to enforce it,” he said.

Recon Botswana is a subsidiary of Reconnaissance Africa and was incorporated under the Botswana Companies Act on March 5, 2020.

It was issued with an exploration license under the Petroleum Act to explore for petroleum minerals in the North West District. ENDS