By: Guy Rogers
ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM EDITOR

THE company that wants to explore for gas in the Cranemere area of the Karoo has refused to answer questions raised in terms of the required public participation process prescribed by South African mining law.

Responding to a 38-page letter containing 110 questions from Woolhead Holdings, the owners of Samara Private Game Reserve, Bundu Gas & Oil Exploration said it was clear that Samara was opposed to the project. Consequently, it would not be responding.

Some of these questions were already raised verbally at a public meeting in Pearston a month ago, the first step of the public participation process prescribed by the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) - and the same thing happened.

Bundu was relying on privilege relating to trade secrets, but this technical exception to the fundamental principle of transparency was unacceptable, he said.