SEO Riders:
– The Green Connection denounces EIA approval for Shell’s 300 km‑offshore Northern Cape Ultra Deep project.
– Coastal fishers and civil society warn of threats to marine ecosystems, livelihoods, and cultural heritage.
– Activists argue new gas drilling undermines climate targets, pointing to methane’s high warming potential.
In July 2025, South Africa’s Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources granted Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval for Shell’s Northern Cape Ultra Deep (NCUD) oil and gas exploration project, involving drilling up to five wells at depths of 2,500–3,200 meters offshore. The approval sparked strong condemnation from The Green Connection, which condemned the authorisation as a direct affront to coastal communities, particularly small-scale fishers who have consistently voiced opposition. Advocacy officer Lisa Makaula described the decision as a “slap in the face” to those who rely on a healthy ocean for food security and cultural continuity.
Local fishers like Walter Steenkamp and Deborah de Wee emphasized that drilling threatens their livelihoods, marine biodiversity, and the transmission of fishing traditions to future generations. Activists also highlighted that unlike renewable energy, gas remains a fossil fuel with significant climate risks—methane emissions from such exploration could vastly accelerate warming at rates incompatible with 1.5 °C climate goals. In response, The Green Connection and other civil society groups are exploring legal avenues to challenge the decision, including potential appeals to judicial authorities.
