Shell allowed to search for oil off the coast of South Africa by judge

Oil and gas company Shell may continue to search for oil off the east coast of South Africa. That has been determined by a South African court, writes business news agency Bloomberg on Friday.

A number of environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, wanted to stop the so-called seismic survey. That investigation was supposed to start on Wednesday, but was postponed due to the summary proceedings. The organizations and activist shareholder organization Just Share say the investigation will permanently damage nature. For example, the noise from the research could scare whales away from their mating sites.

The South African judge finds that statement ‘speculative at best’ and observes a ‘tangible’ public interest in Shell’s activities. In recent weeks, South Africans protested in the capital Cape Town against Shell’s plans. The protesters also fear damage to the ecologically diverse and sensitive coast. Shell told the British newspaper before the ruling The Guardian adhere to all regulations and want to implement strict controls to minimize damage to fish, marine mammals and other animals.