AP

South Africa court to rule on Shell offshore oil exploration

Jun 1, 2022, 7:56 PM | Updated: Jun 2, 2022, 8:02 am

FILE — People protest against seismic surveys off the South African coastline at Muizenberg beach...

FILE — People protest against seismic surveys off the South African coastline at Muizenberg beach in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. A South African court is to rule on efforts to stop British oil giant Shell from conducting any further seismic surveys in the country's Indian Ocean waters to explore for offshore oil and gas deposits. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht/File)

(AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht/File)


              Ocean Rebels, an Extinction Rebellion Cape Town performance group, protest against seismic surveys off the South African coastline at Muizenberg beach in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. A South African court is to rule on efforts to stop British oil giant Shell from conducting any further seismic surveys in the country's Indian Ocean waters to explore for offshore oil and gas deposits.(AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht/File)
            
              FILE — People protest against seismic surveys off the South African coastline at Muizenberg beach in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. A South African court is to rule on efforts to stop British oil giant Shell from conducting any further seismic surveys in the country's Indian Ocean waters to explore for offshore oil and gas deposits. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht/File)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African court is to rule on efforts to stop British oil giant Shell from conducting any further seismic surveys in the country’s Indian Ocean waters to explore for offshore oil and gas deposits.

Environmental and community groups in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province won an urgent interdict to stop the surveys in December last year and are now asking the court to permanently halt the operations.

This week lawyers representing the Xolobeni community in the Eastern Cape argued that they were not properly consulted by Shell and the government before permission was granted to conduct the survey. Environmental groups Sustaining the Wild Coast and Greenpeace Africa are also part of the lawsuit.

Seismic testing is the blasting of sound waves into the sea to determine the size of oil and gas deposits beneath the ocean floor. Environmental groups in South Africa, particularly in the Cape Town area, have demonstrated against the seismic surveys.

Experts testified that seismic surveys could harm animals in the ocean, including whales and dolphins, contrary to Shell’s submission that the surveys were not harmful to marine life.

Shell conceded that its seismic surveys would not economically benefit the Xolobeni community.

“Why should we endanger these animals in circumstances where we have been told by Shell that there will be no economic spinoffs during the survey itself?” advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, representing the Xolobeni community, told the court.

Shell failed to conduct proper consultations with the community as required by law, said Ngcukaitobi.

“There is no evidence that the views of the community were taken into account, as they should have,” he said. The original decision to allow the surveys was “unreasonable,” said Ngcukaitobi.

The Xolobeni community regards the ocean as sacred and is part of their traditional rituals to communicate with their ancestors, he said. The seismic testing would interfere with their culture, he said.

Shell and government lawyers argued in court that seismic surveys have been conducted for many years and no harm had been recorded.

They also argued that the government had taken all factors into account when initially granting Shell approval to conduct the surveys.

The Eastern Cape High Court will consider the arguments before ruling on whether Shell should be allowed to continue the surveys or if they should be completely halted.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

2 days ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

2 days ago

File photo: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman speaks in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024....

Associated Press

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, has died.

2 days ago

islamic state attack...

Vanessa Gera, The Associated Press

What we know after the Islamic State group claims responsibility for Moscow massacre

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people.

5 days ago

Moscow shooting...

The Associated Press

Russia: 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility

Assailants burst into a concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing over 60 people, injuring more than 100.

7 days ago

Photo: Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge visits 282 (East Ham) Squadron, RAF Air Cadets, Cornwel...

Associated Press

Kate Middleton announces she has cancer, is undergoing chemotherapy

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, says she is undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer. She has been out of view since Christmas.

7 days ago

South Africa court to rule on Shell offshore oil exploration