Environmental NGOs and coastal communities have stormed the court to stop Shell from exploring oil and gas in South Africa’s Orange Basin, recently granted environmental authorisation to drill up to five deepwater wells.

The environmental groups and coastal communities are raising concerns about the potential impacts of drilling and seismic surveys on marine life in the area.

Analysts say the court process may delay the commencement of exploration by Shell, which could jeopardise South Africa’s economic interest.

South Africa imports roughly 70% of its oil consumption, and this exposes its economy to volatile global markets and price shocks. Offshore exploration in the Orange Basin offers the country a pragmatic path to strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on expensive imports.

Shell’s project, located in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep Block near Namibia’s major Venus discovery – which is expected to produce over 100,000 barrels per day – could be transformative for South Africa and the wider Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Shell plans to drill between 3,500 and 3,200 meters below sea level, making it one of the deepest offshore wells globally and the deepest ever attempted in South Africa.