Africa Energy Moves Ahead With Brulpadda and Luiperd Gas Development Offshore South Africa
Africa Energy Corp. has advanced plans to develop the Brulpadda and Luiperd gas-condensate discoveries in South Africa’s offshore Block 11B/12B after submitting a new environmental authorisation application covering full-field development and production activities.
The application was submitted by Main Street 1549 to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa on September 14, replacing an earlier application focused on a non-intrusive survey programme.
A new environmental and social impact assessment process will now evaluate the potential development of the discoveries.
Brulpadda and Luiperd were discovered in 2019 and 2020, respectively, and are located within the Paddavissie Fairway.
The discoveries are among the largest offshore gas finds made in South Africa and have been considered potential sources of domestic natural gas supply.
The new environmental assessment is evaluating two full-field development scenarios designed to establish the potential scale and environmental footprint of the project.
The options include transporting gas to shore through a subsea pipeline or processing the gas offshore into liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The final development concept will depend on technical, commercial and market considerations, including the economics of bringing the gas to market.
Main Street assumed operatorship of Block 11B/12B in 2024 after TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and Canadian Natural Resources International announced their withdrawal from the project.
Africa Energy currently has exposure to a 10% participating interest in the block through its investment in Main Street.
Subject to regulatory approvals and completion of the proposed restructuring, Africa Energy expects to hold a 75% participating interest, with Arostyle Investments holding the remaining 25%.
The new environmental application is an important step towards obtaining a Production Right for the block.
Approval of the environmental and social impact assessment is a prerequisite for the Production Right.
Block 11B/12B covers about 18,734 sq km in the Outeniqua Basin off South Africa’s southern coast, with water depths ranging from about 200m to 1,800m.
Advancing the project could provide South Africa with additional domestic gas resources at a time when the country is seeking to address energy supply constraints and develop its natural gas industry.
