South African court cancels TotalEnergies' oil exploration permit

The court's decision, which was seen by, showed that a South African court had revoked the environmental authorization granted to TotalEnergies for its joint venture with Shell to explore oil in a block near the Cape Coast.

The court did say that TotalEnergies was given the chance to correct the deficiencies found, such as a failure properly to assess the socio-economic impact of any oil spills or to take climate change into account.

In her ruling of August 13, Western Cape High court Judge Nobahle Lockwood stated that "Total should be given the opportunity to submit revised or new assessments... in order to correct deficiencies identified."

TotalEnergies did not respond immediately to a comment request. Last year, the French company announced its intention to leave the Block 5/6/7 concession located between Cape Town, South Africa and Cape Agulhas. Shell would be the operator, while PetroSA, a South African company, will hold a minority stake.

This is the latest court order in a long line of legal challenges between environmentalists, and oil companies seeking to explore South Africa's coastline.

Oil companies are making major moves on the west coast in South Africa. They are hoping to duplicate the success they had in Namibia, after a series of discoveries were made in the Orange Basin.

The basin extends to South African waters but is largely unexplored.

Natural Justice, a non-profit organization that was one of the parties in the case and had filed the lawsuit, welcomed the decision, saying it was a win for the growing opposition against oil and gas exploration.

Melissa Groenink Groves, programme manager for the group, stated in a press release that "this judgment confirms again that companies must adhere to due process, conduct comprehensive assessments, and give communities an opportunity to be heard." (Reporting and editing by Alexander Winning, Jan Harvey, and Wendell Roelf)

(source: Reuters)