Shell is pursuing government authorization for a new drilling project off the western shores of South Africa.
According to a draft scoping report from environmental consultancy SLR, Shell plans to drill up to five wells in the region.
The company aims to carry out exploration and appraisal activities as oil companies shift their focus south of Namibia, where recent discoveries in the Orange Basin promise further potential finds.
The Orange Basin, extending into South African waters, has also attracted interest from Shell’s competitor, TotalEnergies.
Shell Offshore Upstream South Africa B.V. and its joint venture partners must obtain environmental authorization from the South African government before they can begin operations in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep Block (NCUD) within the Orange Basin, where water depths range between 2,500 and 3,200 meters.
Shell has encountered opposition from environmental and human rights organizations regarding its plans to conduct seismic testing for oil and gas along South Africa’s Wild Coast.
On June 3, the South African appeals court suspended a previous ruling that halted Shell’s offshore exploration on the Wild Coast, allowing oil companies another chance for public consultation.
Although the court dismissed the appeal, it acknowledged the exploration rights and mandated further public participation to address concerns from environmental groups and coastal communities about the impact of seismic surveys on marine life.
