A South African court canceled an environmental authorization that allowed TotalEnergies and its joint venture partner Shell to explore for oil off the Cape coast.
The court instructed TotalEnergies to fix deficiencies in its assessment, including insufficient analysis of potential socio-economic impacts of oil spills and failure to consider climate change.
“Total must have the opportunity to submit new or updated assessments to address the identified deficiencies,” Western Cape High Court Judge Nobahle Mangcu-Lockwood ruled on August 13.
A TotalEnergies spokesperson confirmed the court’s decision and stated that its local unit and partners had followed all required regulations.
“TotalEnergies Exploration and Production South Africa and its partners will now review the judgment in detail and determine the next steps,” the spokesperson added.
The company revealed last year that it planned to exit Block 5/6/7, located between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas, transferring operatorship to Shell while South Africa’s Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation retains a minority stake.
The ruling represents the latest in ongoing legal disputes between environmental groups and oil companies seeking to explore South Africa’s coastline.
Oil firms are actively pursuing exploration along South Africa’s west coast, aiming to replicate the successes they have achieved in Namibia’s Orange Basin.
Although the basin extends into South African waters, companies have largely left it unexplored.
Natural Justice, a non-profit involved in the case, hailed the ruling as a win for growing opposition to oil and gas exploration in South Africa.
“This judgment reinforces that companies must follow due process, perform thorough assessments, and engage communities before proceeding,” said Melissa Groenink-Groves, the group’s programme manager.
source: www.reuters.com
African Energy Council