Shell’s plans to explore for oil and gas in South Africa’s Orange Basin face a court appeal from environmental groups and coastal communities.

The company’s project, which could produce over 100,000 barrels per day, could be transformative for South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Shell’s authorisation follows a comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, incorporating rigorous safeguards.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) calls for immediate reform of litigation and upstream petroleum legislation to prevent disruptive legal challenges by foreign-funded NGOs.