A South African court has halted an offshore oil exploration project backed by France’s TotalEnergies and the UK’s Shell, ruling that the environmental review process was deeply flawed.
The Western Cape High Court rescinded the government’s environmental authorisation for drilling off the Cape coast, finding that the approval failed to properly assess the socio-economic risks of potential oil spills and the wider impacts of climate change.
While the project is blocked for now, the court left room for a revised application, saying the companies should be allowed to fix the issues identified.
“Total must be afforded opportunity to submit new or amended assessments … to cure the deficiencies identified,” Judge Nobahle Mangcu-Lockwood said, according to Reuters.
The ruling ordered updated assessments to include more detailed studies of environmental risks, climate effects, and possible disruptions to local fishing and coastal communities.
Reuters noted that this is the latest in a growing list of legal disputes between environmental groups and oil companies over drilling rights along South Africa’s coastline.
Energy firms have recently stepped up exploration efforts along the country’s west coast, aiming to replicate oil and gas finds in neighbouring Namibia’s section of the Orange Basin.
Don’t Miss This:
TotalEnergies To Sell 12.5% Stake In Nigeria’s Bonga Oil Field To Shell For $510 Million
In a statement, a TotalEnergies spokesperson acknowledged the court’s decision and maintained that the company’s South African unit and its partners had complied with all regulations.
“TotalEnergies E&P South Africa, along with its joint venture partners, will now legally assess the judgment in more detail and decide on the course of action,” the spokesperson said.
TotalEnergies had already indicated plans to exit the concession, handing operatorship to Shell while PetroSA retained a minority stake.
The court’s decision has reignited debate over the role of foreign-backed fossil fuel projects in South Africa, pitting arguments for energy security and job creation against concerns about environmental damage, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
The case comes amid increasing tensions over how the country should balance economic growth with environmental protection.
Supporters of the project argue it could help strengthen energy supply and create employment, while opponents warn of lasting harm to marine ecosystems, tourism, and climate commitments.
Natural Justice, a non-profit that was among the applicants in the case, welcomed the ruling as a significant victory for communities and environmental advocates opposing oil and gas exploration along the coastline.
“This judgment again confirms that companies must follow due process, undertake comprehensive assessments, and provide communities with an opportunity to be heard,” said the organisation’s programme manager, Melissa Groenink-Groves, in comments to Reuters.
The decision is expected to fuel further debate over South Africa’s energy future and the influence of foreign-backed fossil fuel ventures.
Don’t Miss This:
South Africa Moves Forward With New Cape Nuclear Plant
Image Credit: Society of Petroleum Engineers
