Environmentalists worried about govt’s approval of assessment for oil drilling project off NC coast

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources recently gave petroleum giant Shell the go-ahead for the assessment as part of its proposed ultra-deep oil and gas exploration project.

Social and environmental group, The Green Connection, has expressed concern about the government’s approval of an environmental impact assessment for an oil and gas drilling project off the coast of the Northern Cape.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources recently gave petroleum giant Shell the go-ahead for the assessment as part of its proposed ultra-deep oil and gas exploration project.

The approval comes despite repeated objections raised by environmentalists and Northern Cape coastal communities.

Advocacy officer at The Green Connection, Lisa Makaula, said the department’s decision is a slap in the face for local small-scale fishers.

“We have raised several issues, particularly regarding the oil spill modelling that has been incomplete, and some socio-economic impacts that it could possibly have in a case where there’s an oil spill.”

Makaula said an oil spill could spell disaster for coastal communities that depend on fishing as a livelihood.

“We will be appealing the decision by the department, and we are hoping that the issues raised in our submissions will be taken into consideration.”

The department has indicated it will respond to The Green Connection in due course.