ReconAfrica has applied for environmental clearance to transport specialised hazardous chemicals from Walvis Bay through four regions to its PEL73 operations in the Kavango Basin as it prepares for production well testing at the Kavango West 1X well.
The application, submitted by its Namibian subsidiary Reconnaissance Energy Namibia (REN), is currently under review, according to the Environmental Impact Assessment project portal.
ReconAfrica plans to use the chemicals for drilling, appraisal, and production well testing at KW1X, as well as for future exploration and appraisal wells within PEL73, which extends across the Kavango East and Kavango West regions.
The application identifies caustic soda products, citric acid, gel detergents, corrosion inhibitors, scavengers, soda ash and sodium chloride products among the chemicals required for the operations.
Additional chemicals could be required for future drilling and well-testing operations within the licence area.
The products will be imported through the Port of Walvis Bay and transported by road through the Erongo, Otjozondjupa, and Oshikoto regions before reaching operational sites in Kavango East and Kavango West.
The proposed route passes through Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Arandis, Usakos, Karibib, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Otavi and Grootfontein.
ReconAfrica said the specialised chemicals are required to maintain well integrity, protect equipment, improve operational efficiency and enhance safety during drilling, appraisal and production testing.
The application is supported by an Environmental Scoping Report, Environmental Management Plan and Transport Emergency Response Plan covering the transportation, handling, storage and use of the hazardous substances.
The environmental management measures address chemical classification, packaging, and segregation, as well as transportation, unloading, storage, spill prevention, emergency preparedness, and waste management.
The emergency response plan provides procedures for responding to incidents, containing spills and coordinating with authorities and emergency services along the transport corridor.
The environmental assessment concluded that transporting the chemicals from Walvis Bay to PEL73 would be environmentally acceptable provided the prescribed mitigation and emergency-response measures are implemented.
That conclusion forms part of ReconAfrica’s application and does not constitute regulatory approval. The Environmental Clearance Certificate application remains under review.
The application comes as ReconAfrica prepares further work at KW1X to establish the productivity of the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir encountered at Kavango West.
The company plans to drill a horizontal sidetrack from the existing KW1X well and undertake production testing to determine how hydrocarbons flow from the reservoir.
ReconAfrica recently completed a C$21.9 million financing, with proceeds earmarked primarily for drilling and completing the KW1X horizontal sidetrack, production testing and other exploration activities.
PEL73 covers approximately 6.3 million acres in northeast Namibia. ReconAfrica operates the licence, with BW Energy holding a 20% working interest and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia holding a 10% carried interest.
