An international gas and oil giant will defend its Otago drilling plans today to begin three days of Environmental Protection Agency hearings in Dunedin.
Austrian company OMV plans to drill an oil and gas exploration well costing about $80million in the Great South Basin off the Otago coast this summer.
For three days Dunedin will host hearings on the plans, discussions limited to the discharge of harmful substances from the drill rig's hazardous and non-hazardous deck drains.
Wider issues on climate change are not part of the consideration of the hearing.
The first day will be dedicated mostly to the company submitting evidence, along with one supporting and one opposing submitter.
The remaining 24 speakers, all who oppose the plans, will present over the following two days.
Oil Free Otago and other groups plan to hold protests outside and inside the hearing.
