1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND

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1 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND Shell recently acquired a 90% controlling interest in Petroleum Exploration Licence 39 (PEL 39) located offshore of Namibia. The Government of the Republic of Namibia holds the balance of 10% through the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia. The Licence Area incorporates Blocks 2913A and 2914B and is approximately 12,299 km² Previous Environmental Impact Assessments The previous license holder of Blocks 2913A and 2914B was Signet Petroleum Limited (Signet). Signet proposed to undertake a 2D seismic survey between December 2011 and January 2012, after which further possible target areas were proposed to be identified for a 3D seismic survey programme. In 2011 Signet commissioned CCA Environmental (Pty) Ltd (CCA) to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (1) for their proposed seismic survey programme. The purpose and goals of the EIA were to fulfil the requirements of the Petroleum Agreement between Signet and the Government of the Republic of Namibia; and to investigate and assess the potential environmental impacts related to the proposed project. The EIA process conducted by CCA included stakeholder engagement, specialist studies, and preparation of an EIA report. During the public consultation phase a Background Information Document (BID) was distributed to interested and affected parties consisting of Government authorities, fishing industry representatives, marine mining companies and environmental NGO s. Notices in English and Afrikaans announcing the proposed project and the availability of the BID were placed in The Namibian and The Republikein newspapers. Members of the public were invited to submit written comments on the proposed seismic survey. Finally, a meeting to discuss the proposed seismic survey programme and EIA process was held with representatives of Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) in December Specialist studies that were incorporated in the EIA process included a fisheries specialist study (see Annex B) and a marine fauna specialist study (see Annex C). These studies identified potential negative impacts associated with the Project and proposed mitigation measures to reduce the negative impacts and enhance positive impacts. All information was compiled into an integrated environmental impact assessment report which concluded that the impact of normal operations of the seismic survey vessels would be very low with or without mitigation measures. (1) The term 'EIA' is being used in alignment with the Environmental Management Act (Act 7 of 2007), however this process includes the identification, evaluation and assessment of both biophysical and social impacts. 1

2 Signet received approval from the MME to proceed with the seismic survey. The survey was undertaken without incidents in January and February Subsequent to the Signet survey, Spectrum ASA (Spectrum) proposed to conduct a 2D seismic survey of a portion of the license area and portions of the adjacent blocks. Spectrum conducts multi-client and speculative seismic surveys. The survey was planned to commence in February CCA was appointed to investigate the baseline environmental conditions in the proposed survey area (as required by MME) and to assess the potential impacts of the proposed survey and present the findings in an EIA Report. The EIA process generally followed that of the Signet EIA process. A BID was distributed for a 21-day comment period (16 October 2013 to 6 November 2013). An advertisement announcing the proposed project and the availability of the BID was placed in the Namibian and Die Republikein regional newspapers on Wednesday 16 October Seven written submissions were received during the comment period. The key issue raised was the impact of seismic noise on the tuna fisheries. Specialist studies were conducted to evaluate potential impacts on fisheries and marine fauna and inform the environmental impact assessment. The information from the specialist studies as well as other relevant generic information obtained from previous studies and seismic survey close-out reports were integrated into the EIA report. The assessment report concluded that the impact of normal operations of seismic survey vessels would be very low with or without mitigation measures. Spectrum received approval from the MME to proceed with the seismic survey. The survey was undertaken without incident in April PURPOSE OF THIS UPDATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Shell Namibia Upstream B.V. commissioned Environmental Resources Management (ERM) to conduct an EIA of their proposed 3D seismic activities in the license area. This report is the output of the EIA and has been supported by a Fisheries Specialist Study and a Marine Ecology Specialist Study. Since two previous seismic EIAs with their own specialist studies have already been conducted over the license area, this EIA has updated the scientific baseline information and updated the assessment of the impacts. This Environmental Impact Assessment Report Update (EIA Report Update) presents an assessment of the potential environmental and social impacts associated with the proposed 3D seismic survey in Namibia (the Project). This report presents the objectives, methodology and outcomes of the environmental impact assessment. 2

3 1.3 PROJECT PROPONENT The Project proponent is Shell Namibia Upstream B.V. (Shell), a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell. Shell Contact Person: Jan Deknatel Position: Shell Namibia Exploration Manager Phone: jan.deknatel@shell.com 1.4 INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT The EIA Report Update was prepared by ERM. ERM is a leading global provider of environmental, health, safety, risk, social consulting services and sustainability related services. ERM Contact Person: Henry Camp Position: Partner Phone: henry.camp@erm.com A summary of the individuals who contributed to the EIA Report Update is provided in Table 1.1. Table 1.1 EIA Report Update Contributors Name Role Henry Camp Project Manager Kenneth Kirkby Assistant Project Manager and integrative writer Stephan van den Berg Planning/Controls Assistant and integrative writer Brendon Solik Researcher Debbie du Plessis HSSE Advisor David Shandler Stakeholder Engagement Specialist Dave Japp Fisheries Specialist - Andrea Pulfrich Marine Ecologist Francesca Zino Fisheries Subject Matter Expert (review of Fisheries Specialist Study) Ingeborg McNicoll Marine Ecology Subject Matter Expert (review of Marine Ecology Specialist Study) Vicky Copeman Social Subject Matter Expert Linda Slabber Project Administration Naushad Tahsildar Creative Information Graphics (CiG) Specialist Angelique Brooksbank Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist Peter Tarr Independent Peer Reviewer 1.5 PROPOSED ACTIVITY AND PURPOSE OF THE ACTIVITY Shell is proposing to conduct a three-dimensional (3D) seismic survey in the north portion of the Licence Area approximately 170 km to 250 km offshore of the Namibian coast. The survey will cover approximately 2,500 km². The survey is planned to commence early November 2014 and last approximately 50 days. 3

4 The purpose of the proposed seismic survey is to identify geological features below the seafloor. The interpretation of the seismic data assists in identifying geological features that may contain oil or gas deposits. 1.6 SCOPE OF THE EIA UPDATE This environmental impact assessment updates the EIA carried out in 2011 and considers the specifics of the proposed 3D seismic survey. The environmental impact assessment also incorporates the results of updated marine faunal and fisheries specialist studies. 1.7 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES The objectives of this environmental impact assessment are to: Provide input into the planning, design, and operational decision-making for the seismic survey; Describe the proposed project activities together with the requirements for carrying out the proposed seismic survey; Identify and describe elements of the natural, social and economic environment likely to be affected by the proposed seismic survey activities; Identify and quantify emission sources and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected marine users; Identify and quantify any potential negative impact on the marine ecosystem; particularly the fish resources and evaluate the significance of impacts on sensitive receptors; Propose mitigation measures so as to prevent/avoid disturbance to commercial fishing operations; Identify and quantify potential negative impacts on the social resources; particularly communities surrounding the Luderitz and Walvis Bay Ports and Fishers; Identify, predict and evaluate the residual (i.e. after implementation of practicable mitigation measures) environmental impacts expected to arise from the operation activities of the proposed seismic survey on sensitive receptors and potential affected marine users; and Identify, assesses and specify methods, measures and standards, to be included in the operation of the proposed seismic survey which are necessary to reduce impacts to As Low as Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). 4

5 1.8 REPORT ROADMAP Figure 1.1 provides a schematic diagram of the structure and content of this report. Figure 1.1 EIA Report Roadmap 5