A South African court has blocked an offshore oil exploration venture led by France’s TotalEnergies and the UK’s Shell, ruling that the project’s environmental authorisation was granted without adequate consideration of its socio-economic and climate impacts.
The Western Cape High Court found “significant shortcomings” in the environmental review process for the exploration off the Cape coast, including insufficient assessment of potential oil spill consequences and broader climate effects.
According to Reuters, Judge Nobahle Mangcu-Lockwood rescinded the authorisation but allowed the companies to resubmit revised environmental and social impact studies to address the deficiencies.
The court’s order requires the updated assessments to examine environmental risks in greater depth, evaluate the project’s climate implications, and consider possible disruptions to local fishing industries and coastal communities.
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This ruling is the latest in a string of legal challenges from environmental groups against oil and gas exploration along South Africa’s coastline, where energy firms have been ramping up activity in hopes of replicating recent discoveries in Namibia’s Orange Basin.
TotalEnergies stated that its South African unit and partners had complied with all regulatory requirements and would review the judgment before deciding on next steps.
The French company has already indicated plans to hand over operatorship of the concession to Shell, while PetroSA retains a minority interest.
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The decision has reignited the debate over the balance between economic development, job creation, and energy security versus the protection of marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate goals.
Natural Justice, one of the applicants in the case, welcomed the ruling as a victory for communities and environmental groups.
“This judgment again confirms that companies must follow due process, undertake comprehensive assessments, and provide communities with an opportunity to be heard,” said Melissa Groenink-Groves, the organisation’s programme manager, as quoted by Reuters.
The case is expected to intensify discussions over South Africa’s energy future and the role of foreign-backed fossil fuel projects in the country’s development.
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