Environmentalists to go toe-to-toe with Mineral Resources Dept & Shell in ConCourt

JOHANNESBURG - Environmental groups are set to battle it out with the Department of Mineral Resources and oil giant Shell in the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.
 
Organisations Greenpeace and Natural Justice are challenging a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgement that allowed Shell to bring an application for seismic exploration in the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape.

The surveying includes seismic blasting near the seabed, which the groups are against.

The blasting is a method of searching for oil and gas beneath the seabed

In the high court, environmental groups Greenpeace and Natural Justice challenged the decision to grant Shell exploration rights by arguing that it was procedurally unfair as they failed to consult with interested and affected parties.

They also argued that Shell failed to consider the harm to marine and bird life, the impact on the communities' cultural and spiritual rights, and climate change.

The matter was escalated to the SCA, which confirmed that the consultation process was inadequate and that there was a failure to take relevant considerations into account.

However, the SCA ruled that the high court failed to consider just and equitable relief, issuing a suspension order that allows Shell to make a renewal application for its seismic surveying.

On Tuesday, the court will hear applications from environmental and community groups for leave to appeal the SCA ruling

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