CAPE TOWN, Dec 3 (Reuters) - A South African high court on
Friday struck down an urgent application brought by
environmentalists to stop oil major Royal Dutch Shell
starting seismic surveys to explore for petroleum systems off
the eastern seaboard's popular Wild Coast.
The applicants, which included Greenpeace Africa and
fishermen, had been seeking to stop the survey on the basis it
could cause "irreparable harm" to the marine environment,
especially to migrating hump-back whales in the area.
"The court refused to interdict the seismic survey on the
basis that irreparable harm to marine species was not proven by
the applicants," said Katherine Johnson, a spokesperson for
Natural Justice, one of the organisations in court.
"The court ruled that given financial and other prejudice to
Shell if the seismic surveys were delayed, the balance of
convenience was in Shell's favour," Johnson told Reuters.
A Shell spokesperson said the company was happy with the
outcome of the case.
"Shell is pleased with the court’s decision, which will help
move this seismic survey forward in accordance with its
regulatory approval and permitting," the spokesperson told
Reuters.
"Should viable resources ?be found offshore, this could
significantly contribute to ?the country’s energy security."
Johnson said further litigation from the group cannot be
ruled out, as it had concerns the company had not obtained the
necessary environmental impact assessments.
Shell said this week that it had met all the legal
obligations to undertake the survey in line with regulations,
and received the necessary approvals.
An online petition and several protests have already been
organised against Shell over the survey, which uses a vessel
regularly firing an air gun that produces a very powerful shock
wave underwater to help map subsea geology.
Shell in 2020 acquired a 50% stake in the offshore
exploration right held by Impact Africa, a subsidiary of
privately owned Impact Oil & Gas.
Another group, Sustaining the Wild Coast, which represents
communities along the coastline, lodged a separate court
application on Thursday also seeking to halt the seismic survey.
"We are calling for an immediate halt to the survey and that
no seismic surveying be allowed without a proper Environmental
Authorisation," said Sinegugu Zukulu, a spokesperson for the
group, in a statement.
(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by Jan Harvey)
