Shell has received environmental clearance to drill as many as five deep-water wells off the west coast of South Africa.
The company submitted its application last year and plans to explore or appraise wells in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep Block within the Orange Basin, where water depths range from 2,500 to 3,200 meters.
Several oil giants, including TotalEnergies, are turning their attention to South Africa’s west coast, aiming to tap into the same Orange Basin that has yielded major discoveries in neighboring Namibia.
Shell noted that any commercially viable find could help strengthen South Africa’s energy security and support national economic development efforts, though it did not specify a timeline.
Shell’s earlier efforts to explore along the country’s east coast faced legal challenges over concerns about insufficient public engagement and potential harm from seismic surveys to marine life.
South Africa’s highest court is expected to hear the case later this year, and the outcome could either spark renewed exploration or slow momentum.
Environmental opposition and complex regulatory hurdles have continued to stall South Africa’s push to harness its oil and gas reserves.
Meanwhile, the country—Africa’s most industrialized—has lost about half of its domestic refining capacity in recent years and now leans more heavily on imported fuel to satisfy growing demand.
source: www.reuters.com
African Energy Council