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From Doringbaai to Port Nolloth, West Coast communities are pushing back against mining and offshore oil and gas expansion.  (Liezl Human/Groundup)

‘No one asked us’: West Coast fishers oppose offshore oil and gas development

From Doringbaai to Port Nolloth, West Coast communities are pushing back against mining and offshore oil and gas expansion. Residents, activists and fishers say consultation…

Women are at the bottom of the pile when policies are designed without them.

SA’s gas expansion: Women demand people-first energy policy

Women activists are pushing for an inclusive energy policy in South Africa, challenging the government’s gas plans and advocating for renewables

A judicial review heard in the Western Cape high court this week has questioned the environmental authorisation process for TotalEnergies’ offshore oil and gas exploration rights between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas.
(Chesnot/Getty Images)

Court case challenges SA’s approval of offshore drilling by TotalEnergies

Oil spill risks and climate concerns have sparked legal action against the government and the global energy company

Mineral and petroleum resources minister Gwede Mantashe. File Photo

Mantashe accuses NGOs of being CIA funded

NGO’s should not have “unfettered veto powers” over development in South Africa, according to the minister

The department of mineral resources and energy has hit back at critics who have spoken against its latest draft report on South Africa Renewable Energy Master Plan released in July. (Dean Hutton/Getty Images & Luca Sola/Getty Images)

Mixed reactions to South Africa Renewable Energy Master Plan draft

Environmental groups call for more involvement as the draft does not provide viable solutions to energy poverty or address transformation

Sea change: Climate activists bearing anti-TotalEneergies placards (above) picket in Cape Town. Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy (left) has released her department’s draft offshore oil and gas sector plan. (Brenton Geach/Gallo Images & Islam Safwat/Getty Images)

TotalEnergies gets green light to drill for oil, gas on Cape West Coast

Civil society organisations say the decision comes as a disappointment

Offshore oil and gas development in South Africa is governed, among others, by the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, as amended in 2022, and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act.

Environmental ruling on Karpowership to be made in early 2023

Karpowership says it is ‘bringing on additional specialists and resources’ in revised process

The writer says Mining became an economic pillar because South Africa chose to develop it. Offshore oil and gas could do the same if we choose to.

TotalEnergies’ project to drill exploration wells on southwest coast hits pushback

Concentrate on renewable energy, rather than putting the sensitive habitats and species, whales at risk by drilling exploration wells

Protestors  at the Waterfront waiting the arrival of  the  ship Amazon Warrior. They are against the planned Shell seismic survey for oil and gas in the ocean on November 21, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa.  It is reported that Shell has announced that it will carry out a three-dimensional seismic survey in search of oil and gas deposits from Morgan Bay to Port St Johns off the Wild Coast. (Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

High court order halting West Coast seismic survey remains in place

Searcher Seismic says it will suffer ‘catastrophic’ financial prejudice from the interdict, but small scale fishers say they will suffer significant irreversible harm to their…

Protestors  at the Waterfront waiting the arrival of  the  ship Amazon Warrior. They are against the planned Shell seismic survey for oil and gas in the ocean on November 21, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa.  It is reported that Shell has announced that it will carry out a three-dimensional seismic survey in search of oil and gas deposits from Morgan Bay to Port St Johns off the Wild Coast. (Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

West Coast fishers hail court victory halting seismic survey

The Legal Resources Centre hails court order as stunning victory for indigenous communities along the coast

Aerial view of the western side of  St. Helena bay looking towards Stompneus point.

West Coast seismic battle heads to court

Fourteen applicants, including small-scale fishers, have filed an urgent application in the Western Cape high court to interdict the Australian-based Searcher Seismic, Searcher…

Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Mantashe comments on objections to Shell seismic survey ‘astounding’

Environmental group says the government is continuing to push the country towards a climate change disaster

New frontier: A variety of species occur in a deep ecosystem. The seafloor is threatened by mining even though there are enough materials on land and through battery recycling. Photo: Alexis Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Deep seabed mining a threat to Africa’s coral reefs

The deep oceans are a fragile final frontier, largely unknown and untouched but mining companies and governments — other than those in Africa — are eying its mineral riches

Doubt: The Yamal LNG gas plant in Russia. Critics of South Africa’s Gas Amendment Bill argue that it supports fossil fuel development and drives carbon emissions. (Maxim Zmeyev/AFP/Getty Images)

‘Government must take its foot off the new gas Bill’

Environmental organisations want the government to factor the climate change crisis into the proposed legislation

Vulnerable: Environmentalists argue that the proposed oil and gas exploration and production will disrupt people’s livelihoods and the marine life following the huge shoals of sardines.  (Rajesh Jantilal/AFP)

Creecy taken to court over oil, gas plan

An environment group says its application is a ‘watershed’ case for stopping deep sea exploration

Karpowership SA’s applications for environmental clearance for its controversial gas-to-power projects failed to meet the minimum requirements for public participation under South Africa’s environmental legislation.

Karpowership decision shows ‘people’s voices do count’

Refusal of project shows there is ‘no space for tick-box exercises’ by environmental consultants

Complaint brought against Karpowership enviro consultants for not doing study on underwater noise

Department of forestry, fisheries and the environment says there could be criminal charges

Oil, gas an ‘illusionary’ quick fix

The state should focus on the stewardship of the ocean and sustainable use of its resources for economic growth and long-term jobs rather than on the fossil fuel industry

Gas to power: Who can halt the hot air?

Parliament should be asking the public what we think of Karpowerships before approaching the energy department about its deal

Mantashe is pumping gas

The minister believes liquified petroleum gas is needed in the energy mix, but some experts are not convinced of its merits