TotalEnergies Launches Major Offshore Drilling Campaign in South African Waters
TotalEnergies SE is preparing to launch an ambitious new offshore drilling campaign in South Africa’s Deep Western Orange Basin, marking a significant expansion of oil exploration activities in the region. The French energy giant plans to drill up to seven wells located approximately 211 kilometers off the coast of Saldanha Bay, according to environmental assessments conducted by SLR Consulting.
The drilling campaign, expected to begin next year as confirmed by TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné during a recent earnings call, extends into waters where neighboring Namibia has made major oil discoveries. This development comes amid heightened interest in the broader Orange Basin following significant finds by TotalEnergies and Shell in Namibia in 2022, positioning the region as one of Africa’s most promising oil frontiers.
Shell is pursuing similar plans with intentions to drill up to five wells within the Northern Cape Ultra Deep license block. Both companies face potential legal challenges from environmental groups who have successfully delayed several offshore exploration projects in South African courts in recent years.
Although South Africa has yet to produce commercial oil, exploration estimates suggest the country could hold up to 2.6 billion barrels of reserves. Industry projections indicate that commercial production could begin by 2030, with exploration hotspots including the Orange, Lüderitz, Kavango, and Walvis basins.
Sources: angolanminingoilandgas.com, Bloomberg
