The government has granted permission to a local oil and gas exploration company to sink several test wells in a quarter-million-hectare chunk of the Mpumalanga Highveld, spurring strong opposition by farmers, renewable energy developers and other interest groups. Rhino has provided a written “assurance” that it has no ambition to pursue shale gas and controversial rock fracturing technology (fracking) during its exploration venture. But SLR, a consulting group representing Rhino, counters that the company is focusing its initial exploration on areas with the highest potential for gas discovery. If Rhino decided to extend its drilling to other parts of the 750,000ha exploration block, further EIAs would have to be conducted. Though Lake Chrissiesmeer falls just outside the current gas exploration area, Van Rooyen says that many of the pans are interlinked and also home to thousands of water birds and waders.