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Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe

OPINION | Gwede Mantashe, like Nongqawuse, is the false prophet of oil and gas prosperity

Exploration has brought income inequality and poverty to people in Mauritius, Mozambique and Nigeria.

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

Extinction threat: The African penguins breed on islands off South Africa’s coast, including in the St Croix Island Reserve near the Coega River mouth. Photo: Reinhard Dirscherl/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Penguins can’t get enough to eat

The causes include commercial fishing near their colonies and a scarcity of sardines and anchovies

Environmental Affairs Minister Barbara Creecy. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Creecy okays drilling off KwaZulu-Natal coast

Despite dozens of appeals, the South African government is determined to give Sasol and its partners the go-ahead. But activists will not stop the fight

Polluted: The Willowton oil spill caused fish to die from a lack of oxygen. (Rogan Ward)

Rivers die after oil, chemical spill

A disastrous oil and chemical spill at Willowton Oils in Pietermaritzburg has devastated the Msunduzi and Umgeni and harmed those who depend on it

Shell debates Nigeria oil spill compensation – five years later

Shell has begun talks with Nigeria’s Bodo community on compensation and a cleanup after the largest loss of a mangrove habitat caused by oil spills.

BP knew of risks but put cutbacks above safety – expert

BP’s "every dollar counts" culture led to the fatal Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

NewAge announced that seismic surveys would begin early next year in a 12 000km2 block around Algoa Bay.

Oil prospecting threatens crucial African penguin colony

Conservationists warn that the last stronghold of the endangered birds has been threatened by offshore oil and gas exploration near Port Elizabeth.

A number of distressed penguins have been rescued from Robben Island and elsewhere.

Tender botch compounds dirty oil slick

Forty distressed African penguins have been caught up in a political row over who should take the blame for the oil-spill disaster in Cape Town.

NewAge announced that seismic surveys would begin early next year in a 12 000km2 block around Algoa Bay.

Western Cape penguins treated after oil spill

Fifteen penguins have been captured on Robben Island and treated after being covered with oil following a spill on the Cape Town coastline.

Battle of oil titans as BP seeks to shift blame for Gulf spill

Battle of oil titans as BP seeks to shift blame for Gulf spill

BP sought to spread the blame for the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster on Wednesday, setting off a battle of oil-industry giants.

Gulf storm puts BP spill efforts on hold

Tropical Storm Bonnie threatened efforts on Friday to plug BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil leak for good.

Looming storm delays BP battle to plug Gulf well

Looming storm delays BP battle to plug Gulf well

BP crews on Wednesday made hasty preparations to protect the damaged Gulf of Mexico oil well from a looming storm.

BP survives Washington week

BP survives Washington week, investors weigh finances

BP bosses weathered a week of anger in Washington but the energy giant’s financial outlook faces renewed scrutiny from investors.

US lawmakers grill BP boss as spill deal lifts shares

BP chief executive Tony Hayward faced the wrath of US lawmakers on Thursday as he appeared before a hearing to apologise for the oil spill.

Do BP’s initials stand for Bad at Politics?

This was bound to be a difficult time for the company long known as British Petroleum, writes <b>Jonathan Mann</b>.

Obama to demand BP pay for oil spill damage

Obama to demand BP pay for oil spill damage

President Barack Obama, seeking to counter an image of detached leadership, will demand on Wednesday that BP set aside billions to pay for the spill.

Far from US Gulf, Nigerian thieves mop up oil spills

Using tubes to funnel polluted water into his small boat, Nigerian teenager Daniel Muukor helps to "mop up" the latest oil spill in the Niger Delta.

BP faces grilling in US Congress

BP faces grilling in US Congress

BP’s US chief faces accusations in Congress that the energy giant caused the worst oil spill in US history with a calculated strategy to cut costs.

Obama leadership on BP spill faces testing week

Obama leadership on BP spill faces testing week

Obama’s leadership of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill faces key tests this week as the US president gives his first national address on the disaster.