AS THE world grapples with intensifying climate challenges, the South African government’s greenlighting of Shell’s deepwater oil and gas exploration off the Northern Cape’s west coast has ignited a fierce backlash from environmental groups and fishing communities who say the decision flies in the face of climate science and social justice.
Business Report’s Philippa Larkin reported that Shell confirmed it has secured environmental authorisation to drill up to five ultra-deepwater wells in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep (NCUD) Block, located in the Orange Basin between Port Nolloth and Saldanha Bay. The wells will be drilled at depths of between 2,500 and 3,200 metres.
The project has drawn sharp criticism from advocacy organisations and small-scale fishers who argue that the approval disregards the livelihoods of Northern Cape coastal communities and the environmental risks posed by offshore fossil fuel extraction. Groups such as The Green Connection and Natural Justice submitted formal objections to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in both August and December 2024, but their concerns have been overruled.
Lisa Makaula, advocacy officer at The Green Connection, called the approval “deeply troubling”, citing the potential impact on marine ecosystems along the Northern Cape coast and communities already vulnerable to climate and economic shocks.
“This EIA authorisation is a slap in the face of the small-scale fishers and communities who have consistently raised concerns about the project and its potential impact on their livelihoods,” said Makaula
Local fishers have expressed anguish over the decision. They warn that industrial oil and gas activities could disrupt marine life, endanger food security, and erode cultural heritage passed down through generations of Northern Cape ocean-reliant families.
“We’ve said before – these oceans are our life. We need a healthy ocean to survive. How can they approve something that could destroy our future? This is why we will not back down,” said Walter Steenkamp, a small-scale fisher from Port Nolloth.
Deborah de Wee, a small-scale fisher from Doringbaai, said that the community was “deeply disappointed” by the decision.
“We believe that it’s a huge mistake that puts our ocean – and our future – at risk. We don’t want harmful activities like oil and gas drilling in our waters because we depend on the ocean for our daily bread. This is how we survive, and how our people have survived for generations,” said De Wee
These projects don’t just threaten our food security – they potentially threaten our entire way of life. If this goes ahead, our children may never experience the ocean the way we did. With this decision, it feels like we are being robbed of our fishing culture. How will we teach the next generation to make a living from the sea when the risks are so high?”
Environmentalists have also pointed out the contradiction in promoting fossil fuel exploration while pledging to curb emissions and adapt to climate change. Despite industry claims that gas is a “transition fuel”, scientific consensus maintains that new oil and gas developments are incompatible with efforts to keep global warming below 1.5°C. Methane emissions from gas are especially concerning, as they trap heat far more effectively than carbon dioxide.
The targeted area is not just a geological asset, but a critical part of the Northern Cape’s ocean heritage — one that sustains biodiversity and entire communities. With public trust in environmental governance already strained, the Shell decision underscores the tension between short-term resource extraction and long-term planetary stewardship, The Green Connection pointed out.
As exploration looms, Northern Cape civil society and affected communities have vowed to continue pushing back.
Staff Reporter
dfa.co.za
