TotalEnergies yet to decide after drilling court blow

TOTALEnergies E&P South Africa and its partners are contemplating their next move having been dealt a huge blow when the Western Cape High Court recently halted their offshore oil exploration plans.

- NICOLA DANIELS

The court set aside the government's decision to grant environmental authorisation for offshore drilling in Block 5/6/7, along the South-West Coast to TotalEnergies EP South Africa.

The court has sent the matter back to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) for a fresh decision.

Total intends to transfer the environmental authorisation to Shell.

The ruling follows a legal challenge brought by environmental rights organisations, The Green Connection and Natural Justice, arguing that Total’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report failed to properly assess the socioeconomic impact of the proposed project because it did not assess the socioeconomic impact which a well blowout and consequent oil spill may cause on the fishing industry and small scale fishers, among others.

Judge Nobahle Mangcu-Lockwood ruled that Total must be afforded the opportunity to submit new or amended assessments, as the case may be, to cure the deficiencies identified in the first to fifth grounds of review of the judgment.