Shell’s oil and gas exploration gets government go-ahead despite coastal community outcry
Civil society groups say the approval of Shell’s environmental plan ignores the voices of small-scale fishers and threatens their livelihoods.
A Shell petrol station. Picture: Brandon Bell / Getty Images via AFP
CapeTalk's Clarence Ford is joined by Lisa Makaula, Advocacy Manager at Green Connection.
Listen below:
Despite objections from coastal communities and civil society, government has given the green light to oil giant Shell's Environmental Impact Assessment to explore for oil and gas in the Northern Cape.
The Green Connection has called the EIA authorisation a 'slap in the face of the small-scale fishers and communities.'
It says they made clear their concerns about the project and its potential impact on their livelihoods.
RELATED: Fracking the Karoo cannot prevent 2027 ‘gas cliff’ – Chris Yelland, energy analyst
"We and the communities did raise some quite critical issues, particularly regarding a case of blow out, and that could have negative impacts on the communities that are depending on fishing."
- Lisa Makaula, Advocacy Manager - Green Connection
Makaula says the concerns they raised appear to have been overlooked.
"Some of the comments made were not taken into consideration... the approval has been given to the company."
- Lisa Makaula, Advocacy Manager - Green Connection
The Green Connection says there is mounting evidence of the potential harm oil and gas activities pose to marine biodiversity and small-scale fishers who rely on the ocean.
"With oil and gas, it's whereby there are going to be large vessels in the ocean...the problem [is] in the instance where there is an oil blow out, then it could leave to impact on the environment and fishing industry."
- Lisa Makaula, Advocacy Manager - Green Connection
The Green Connection say they are currently reviewing the decision to authorise the EIA and will consider appealing it within the stipulated timeframe.
Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.