It was reported that Shell’s seismic testing for oil and gas along South Africa’s eastern coastline has been suspended pending a final judgement by a South African court. Environmentalists have applauded the decision, which they believe would protect marine life from the sound blasting. The High Court Judge Gerald Bloem said that Shell’s permission to explore the waters around the Wild Coast was granted on the basis of a significantly faulty consultation process. Justice Bloem also stated that experts testified about the potential harm that the tests could create, and that Shell had failed to adequately counter it. The Eastern Cape province’s 250-kilometer coastline is recognized for its natural beauty and marine life. Activists said that many aquatic species, including whales, dolphins, and seals, will be harmed by the seismic testing. Local communities, who were also represented in the case, complained that their customary land and fishing rights had been violated. Seismic surveys are used to map what lies beneath the seafloor. Shockwaves launched from an air pistol are blasted down to the seafloor, similar to a strong speaker. The sound that is returned tells whether there is oil trapped beneath the rock. Shell began surveying the 6,000-square-kilometer area in early December after a previous court ruling allowed it to proceed. Gwede Mantashe (South Africa’s Energy Minister) has lambasted the project’s critics, accusing them of attempting to deprive South Africa of its energy resources. Shell announced that it had suspended operations while it evaluates the court’s decision.
Source: Viewers Corner News.