South African Court Stops Shell Oil Search

A South African court has revoked oil giant shell’s permit to explore offshore oil and gas in an ecologically sensitive area.

This comes as a major victory for environmentalists and coastal communities.

Exploration Rights
Activists have long argued that exploration in the Wild Coast area a 250km (155miles) stretch of untouched shoreline will harm marine life.

Report says the court set aside a 2014 decision by the government to grant Shell exploration rights in the area. It also set aside a 2021 renewal of the rights.

Shell will no longer be able to conduct controversial seismic surveys of the ocean, which environmentalists argued were detrimental to marine life and ecology.

Coastal communities have campaigned for sustainable eco-tourism of the Wild Coast instead of drilling for oil and gas.

BBC/CO