17th Feb 2022 11:51
(Alliance News) - Shell PLC on Thursday lost a bid to secure an appeal against the temporary halt imposed on its seismic surveying of the Wild Coast, on the eastern coastline of South Africa, Business Day reported.
The High Court in Makhanda, a town in the Eastern Cape, has dismissed with costs an application brought by the oil major and Mineral Resources & Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, for leave to appeal against an interdict obtained by communities that temporarily halted seismic blasting off the Wild Coast, BD said.
A ruling was made by the court on Thursday that will see the interdict remain in place, BD said, awaiting the communities' application to set aside Shell's exploration rights, which was scheduled to be heard on May 30.
Judge Gerald Bloem said in his ruling that setting aside the temporary order would serve no purpose.
Under the current exploration right, Shell was only allowed to undertake a seismic survey between December and the end of May.
https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/energy/2022-02-17-shell-loses-bid-to-secure-appeal-against-temporary-halt-of-wild-coast-seismic-survey/
In December, the High Court ordered Shell to halt its seismic survey operations following a petition brought by environmentalists worried about the impact on whales and other species.
Shell was planning to extract 3D seismic data over more than 6,000 square kilometres of ocean off the Wild Coast. Campaigners argued that the research would have sent loud shock waves every 10 seconds, 24 hours a day for five months, potentially harming marine species, disrupting their feeding and reproductive routines.
South Africa's energy ministry had backed the scheme, and lashed out at those who opposed it as thwarting investment in the country's development, with any oil and gas findings likely to benefit local economies and the nation's energy security.
By Greg Roxburgh; [email protected]
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