Royal Dutch Shell Group .com Rotating Header Image

Shell to go ahead with seismic tests in whale breeding grounds after court win

The Guardian

Shell to go ahead with seismic tests in whale breeding grounds after court win

Judgment rules company can blast sound waves in search for oil along South Africa’s eastern coastline

Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent: Fri 3 Dec 2021 10.45 GMT

Royal Dutch Shell will move ahead with seismic tests to explore for oil in vital whale breeding grounds along South Africa’s eastern coastline after a court dismissed an 11th-hour legal challenge by environmental groups.

The judgment, by a South African high court, allows Shell to begin firing within days extremely loud sound waves through the relatively untouched marine environment of the Wild Coast, which is home to whales, dolphins and seals.

Campaigners filed an urgent legal challenge against the seismic survey, which was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, but the last-minute interdict was dismissed by a judge on Friday morning.

Green groups fear exploring for oil could disrupt the sea mammals’ habitat and damage the ecologically diverse and sensitive environment of the Wild Coast, which runs along the Eastern Cape province.

The oil company dropped plans to help develop the Cambo oilfield in the North Sea on Thursday after escalating criticism of the project, but has defended its plans for the South African coastline despite strong local opposition.

FULL ARTICLE

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Comments are closed.