SEO Riders:
– Shell drilling approval South Africa controversy
– Environmental opposition Orange Basin exploration
– Fisher communities protest offshore oil drilling
Civil society organisations and small-scale fishers have sharply criticized the South African government’s decision to grant Shell environmental authorization to drill up to five ultra‑deep wells in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep block of the Orange Basin, roughly 300 km offshore at depths of 2,500 to 3,200 m. Coastal communities warn that the move threatens marine ecosystems, fish stocks, and local livelihoods by allowing seismic surveys and drilling activities in sensitive ocean regions.
Environmental groups like The Green Connection and Greenpeace have voiced alarm over declining public consultation and ecological risk, including potential catastrophic oil spill impacts far beyond surface waters. While Shell and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy promote the project as enhancing national energy security and economic development, community representatives insist these gains are outweighed by irreversible harm to coastal cultures and ecosystems—and pledge ongoing legal and public opposition.
