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South Africa: Court Reserves Judgment in Oil Giant's Seismic Survey Case #AfricaClimateCrisis
allAfrica, 29 November 2022
The Eastern Cape High Court has reserved judgment in the leave to appeal application by the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Impact Africa and Shell, Engineering News… Read more »
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South Africa: Oil Giant Shell Returns to Court in New Bid to Push for Seismic Survey #AfricaClimateCrisis
allAfrica, 23 November 2022
Despite a massive outcry, oil giant Shell has not given up its hopes of seeking to conduct a seismic survey off the ecologically sensitive Wild Coast. Authorisation granted by the… Read more »
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South Africa: Meaningful Consultation With Communities - What Does It Mean?
Africa In Fact, 7 April 2022
The recent High Court case that interdicted Shell's seismic blasting campaign off South Africa's Wild Coast demonstrates how indigenous communities are using the courts to protect… Read more »
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South Africa: What Is All the Noise About Seismic Surveys About?
Africa In Fact, 15 March 2022
There has recently been a great deal of noise in the media about Shell, seismic surveys and the Wild Coast of South Africa. But what is all the fuss about? Are seismic surveys… Read more »
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South Africa: Court Vindicates the Rights of West Coast Fishing Communities to Be Consulted Before Seismic Surveys
Daily Maverick, 6 March 2022
'Unlimited development is detrimental to the environment and the destruction of the environment is detrimental to development.' - Constitutional Court Read more »
South African Court Reserves Judgment in Seismic Survey Case
The Eastern Cape High Court has reserved judgment in the leave to appeal application by the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Impact Africa and Shell. The parties sought to appeal a ruling by the Makhanda High Court handed down in September, 2022 which found that the right granted to Shell to perform a seismic survey off the Wild Coast, an ecologically sensitive area, was unlawful.
Opposition against the oil giant's plan has been intense. Coastal fishing communities along with non-governmental groups including Sustaining the Wild Coast, All Rise, Natural Justice and Greenpeace Africa prepared to file leave to cross-appeal the court decision not to determine whether Shell and Impact Africa required an Environmental Authorisation ahead of the start of the seismic survey. This is due to the fact that a declarator - an action whereby a legal right or status is declared but nothing further is done - would clarify the nature of the organisation's obligations under both the National Environmental Management Act and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act within the context of Section 24 of the Constitution, which states: "Everyone has the right to: an environment which is not harmful to their health or well-being."
A final decision is expected to be made by the end of the year.
InFocus
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The Eastern Cape High Court has ruled that the exploration rights granted to Impact Africa and Shell that would allow them to do a seismic survey along South Africa's Eastern Cape ... Read more »
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The Minister of Minerals and Mining Gwede Mantashe and oil giant Shell has had no joy from the Makhanda High Court which ruled that the interim interdict that was issued in ... Read more »
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Environmental activists are preparing for another legal battle against a planned seismic survey. This comes less than a month after the Makhanda High Court granted an interdict ... Read more »
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An interdict against seismic scanning by oil giant Shell has been granted by the Grahamstown High Court in Makhanda, Read more »
Representatives of civic organisations and local communities picket outside the Port Elizabeth High Court where the case to have Shell’s seismic survey rights set aside was heard (file photo).
