South Africa's top court blocks Shell's offshore oil exploration
The apex court said the exploration right was unlawful because Shell and Impact Africa failed to properly consult affected communities.
- On Friday, South Africa's Constitutional Court blocked Shell and Impact Africa from seismic exploration off the Eastern Cape's Wild Coast, ruling the exploration right granted by the Department of Mineral Resources unlawful and set aside with no renewal opportunity.
- Communities and environmental activists successfully challenged the survey since at least 2021, arguing the Department failed to properly consult them; the Makhanda High Court ruled in 2022 the right was granted unlawfully, though the Supreme Court of Appeal previously suspended that order.
- In the majority ruling, Justice Jody Kollapen stated that flawed consultation processes cannot be "cured" and would set a dangerous precedent. Justice Owen Rogers and Justice Katharine Savage dissented, arguing the court should not "make light" of the companies' R1.1-billion expenditure.
- Activists hailed the victory, noting the judgment affirms that Section 24 of the Constitution—the right to an environment not harmful to health—is enforceable against powerful corporate interests. Lucien Limacher from Natural Justice called the ruling "not a paper promise."
- The judgment sets a precedent well beyond South Africa, with Limacher stating it "tells governments and companies alike that meaningful consultation with affected communities is not optional." The ruling establishes a rigorous standard for future industrial projects affecting coastal communities.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Shell is no longer allowed to search for oil and gas off the Wild Coast, the east coast of South Africa. The Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled this on Friday, overturning a 2024 ruling by a lower court. This is a setback for the oil company following a years-long legal battle with local communities and environmental activists.
South Africa’s Top Court Blocks Shell Wild Coast Exploration
South Africa’s Constitutional Court has blocked Shell-led exploration along the country’s Wild Coast, adding another legal setback to an offshore sector already struggling to keep pace with neighboring Namibia. The country’s highest court on Friday overturned a 2024 Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that had preserved a pathway for Shell and Impact Africa to conduct seismic surveys off South Africa’s east coast under an exploration right granted in…
Constitutional Court blocks Shell’s Wild Coast exploration
The Constitutional Court has blocked Shell’s Wild Coast exploration plans after overturning a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) order concerning the disputed exploration right, Cape {town} Etc reports. The judgment was handed down on Friday, 14 August, in two matters brought by Sustaining the Wild Coast NPC and Natural Justice against the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy and others. pic.twitter.com/hSemeibJpO — Constitutional Court (@ConCou…
ussanews.com
ugandanews.netSouth African judges stop Shell oil search
The Constitutional Court has set aside the exploration rights for oil and gas off the Wild Coast British energy giant Shell’s plan to search for oil and gas off South Africa’s Wild Coast has come to an end after the African country’s Constitutional Court set aside its exploration rights on Friday. The ruling overturns a...
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