Green Connection hails court ruling halting TotalEnergies oil exploration project
In a landmark victory for coastal communities, the Western Cape High Court this week overturned a government decision to grant offshore drilling rights to TotalEnergies EP South Africa.
Picture: Facebook/TotalEnergiesSouthAfrica
CAPE TOWN - In a landmark victory for coastal communities, the Western Cape High Court this week overturned a government decision to grant offshore drilling rights to TotalEnergies EP South Africa.
Judge Nobahle Mangcu-Lockwood found TotalEnergies’s environmental impact report was deeply flawed.
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She said it ignored coastal protection laws and did not properly assess the climate change impacts.
She also found the oil company was not transparent with the public regarding the emergency plans in case of an oil spill.
Advocacy officer at the Green Connection Lisa Makaula said they were happy with the court’s decision.
"This is a victory for the communities, particularly along the coast because they rely on fishing for their livelihoods and with these types of projects, it could pose a possible or detrimental effect to that local economy."