Frackers Altona Energy have announced that it’s Arckaringa project near Coober Pedy has had an extension granted until 19^th May 2015 to its Water Affecting Activity Permit (WAAP), which defines water management procedures for the proposed 31-hole drilling programme. 

This Permit was granted by the Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) via the South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board (SAALNRMB).

It follows the recent grant of a renewed Program for Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR), which identifies all relevant environmental, social and economic impact events that may result from proposed exploration activities and how each of the identified impacts are to be managed or avoided. 

The WAAP approval and the previously announced PEPR approval follow South Australian Government consent for the return of its Exploration Licences, previously held by the former Joint Venture partners Altona and CNOOC.   

Altona has worked alongside the South Australian authorities to expedite the WAAP and the PEPR permits, which had previously lapsed under CNOOC operatorship.  The receipt of these two key permits allows Altona to continue to plan the 31-hole drilling programme, the execution of which remains subject to partner finance.