Shell’s Multi-Billion Dollar Wild Coast Oil Project Heads to South Africa’s Highest Court
Constitutional Court to decide fate of controversial seismic surveys next week amid fierce community resistance
South Africa’s Constitutional Court will hear critical arguments on September 16 that could determine the future of Shell’s contentious Wild Coast oil exploration project, following years of legal battles with local communities and environmental groups.
The case centers on oil exploration rights granted to Shell and Impact Africa in 2014, which courts have now declared unlawful due to inadequate community consultation. The controversial seismic surveying operations, involving powerful airgun blasting toward the seabed, were successfully halted through legal action by Wild Coast communities.
The Supreme Court of Appeal agreed the rights were granted illegally but suspended the invalidity ruling, giving Shell another chance to renew its exploration rights for a third time. Wild Coast communities are now challenging this decision, arguing it perpetuates illegality and violates their constitutional rights to food, livelihoods, and cultural practices.
Shell claims it has invested over R1 billion in the project and was not responsible for the consultation failures. The company argues that setting aside exploration rights immediately could have a “chilling effect on investment” and discourage commercial development. The Makhanda High Court previously ruled that affected communities were not properly notified and consulted, and that their spiritual, cultural, and livelihood rights were ignored. The minister also failed to comply with Integrated Coastal Management Act requirements.
Source: groundup.org.za
