Afrikaans_TEEPSA DWOB South_Info Pamphlet_EISA

This fact sheet, produced by Natural Justice in September 2025, provides information regarding Total Energies' (TEEPSA) proposed oil and gas exploration drilling in the southern part of the Deepwater Orange Basin (DWOB) block off the coast of South Africa. It outlines the planned technical activities, potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, and the legal process for public participation and comment.

• Total Energies (TEEPSA) plans to conduct exploration drilling in the southern portion of the Deepwater Orange Basin (DWOB) block. The project involves drilling up to 7 wells in the ocean, with each well taking between 3 and 4 months to complete. These operations will occur 211 km offshore at depths ranging from 500 m to 3,900 m, which may represent the deepest offshore drilling to date.
• The drilling process will involve the use of logistics bases on the coast, the discharge of waste materials—including cuttings, drilling fluids, and excess cement—onto the seabed, and the use of air guns for vertical seismic profiling (VSP) to evaluate geology.
• The project poses risks to marine life, including tuna, swordfish, sharks, whales, dolphins, leatherback turtles, and African penguins, through noise, pollution, and drilling waste. Potential oil spills could contaminate fishing grounds. Socio-economically, the project may reduce fishing income by altering fish behavior and impact the cultural and spiritual heritage of indigenous people and small-scale fishing communities along the coastline from Port Nolloth to Cape Town.
• The project is currently in the Impact Assessment phase of the Environmental Authorization (OM) process. The draft Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA/OMIA) report is available for public review from 11 August to 10 September 2025, with hard copies available in Port Nolloth, Lambertsbaai, Saldanha, and Houtbaai. Additionally, fishing communities and environmental organizations intend to challenge the Environmental Authorization for the northern part of the DWOB block in the Western Cape High Court in October 2025.

APA

Natural Justice (n.d.). Afrikaans_TEEPSA DWOB South_Info Pamphlet_EISA. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FINAL_Afrikaans_TEEPSA-DWOB-South_Info-Pamphlet_EISA.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. Afrikaans_TEEPSA DWOB South_Info Pamphlet_EISA. n.d. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FINAL_Afrikaans_TEEPSA-DWOB-South_Info-Pamphlet_EISA.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=Afrikaans_TEEPSA DWOB South_Info Pamphlet_EISA |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FINAL_Afrikaans_TEEPSA-DWOB-South_Info-Pamphlet_EISA.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljusticendafrikaansteepsa, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{Afrikaans\_TEEPSA DWOB South\_Info Pamphlet\_EISA}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FINAL_Afrikaans_TEEPSA-DWOB-South_Info-Pamphlet_EISA.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }