Court Halts TotalEnergies’ Offshore Oil Exploration Over Environmental Concerns
A South African court has overturned an environmental authorization that allowed TotalEnergies and its joint venture partner Shell to explore for oil off the Cape coast, citing serious flaws in the company’s environmental review.
The Western Cape High Court ruled on August 13 that TotalEnergies failed to adequately assess the potential socio-economic impact of oil spills and neglected to consider climate change in its application.
“Total must have the opportunity to submit new or updated assessments to address the identified deficiencies,” Judge Nobahle Mangcu-Lockwood stated.
A TotalEnergies spokesperson confirmed the decision, saying its South African unit and partners had complied with all regulatory requirements but would now “review the judgment in detail and determine the next steps.”
Last year, TotalEnergies announced plans to exit Block 5/6/7—located between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas—by transferring operatorship to Shell.
South Africa’s state-owned Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation retains a minority stake in the project.
The ruling marks the latest victory for environmental groups challenging offshore oil exploration along South Africa’s coastline.
Energy companies are pushing to unlock resources in the west coast’s Orange Basin, where Namibia has already made major oil discoveries. While the basin extends into South African waters, it remains largely untapped.
Environmental group Natural Justice, which was part of the case, welcomed the decision as a significant win for communities resisting oil and gas projects.
“This judgment reinforces that companies must follow due process, conduct thorough environmental assessments, and meaningfully engage affected communities before moving forward,” said Melissa Groenink-Groves, the organization’s programme manager.
