Legal challenge launched against gas-drilling approval
The battle by Plett's Environmental Forum against off-shore gas production by Total Energies has been placed on the international radar by the renowned Lewis Pugh Foundation.
The matter relates to off-shore production right by TotalEnergies (Teepsa) for block 11B/12B off Plettenberg Bay. The boost for the forum's fight against gas production and seismic exploration comes in a week that a further extension to the submission date for the final environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) was announced. The new date is 30 August. "It is with some relief (for now), that we share this news," said Julie Carlisle of the Plett Environmental Forum.
"We suspect that Teepsa cannot move forward on this application without an end-user agreement in place and without confirmation that the PetroSA platform and pipeline are available/adequate to pipe gas on. A small victory for now, thanks to a giant effort by so many people and the community standing together."
She said so far no response had been received on the CGG Seismic Survey appeal.
"We wait with bated breath on this, though it would seem that the thousands of appeals submitted to the approval for seismic surveying have, at least, delayed this for now," said Carlisle.
The decision to postpone the offshore production right and environmental authorisation applications by TotalEnergies for Block 11B/12B was communicated to interested and affected parties by WSP Group Africa (Pty) Ltd, the environmental assessment practitioner.
Foundation newsletter
The internationally renowned Lewis Pugh Foundation said in its latest newsletter there were close to 30 motions pending to explore resources along the South African coastline, "some of them alongside sensitive Marine Protected Areas".
The foundation strives to ensure environmental justice for the world's oceans by protecting them from human abuse and exploitation. So far it has been instrumental in protecting 2,2 million square kilometres of ocean.
In the foundation's latest newsletter, under the headline 'Destroyer of Worlds' it uses the quote: "Now I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds."