IOLI NOPHONONONGO: UNXWEME OLUSENTSHONA

TotalEnergies (TEEPSA) plans to drill up to seven exploration wells for oil and gas in the southern Deep Water Orange Basin (DWOB), approximately 211 km off the South African coast at depths between 500m and 3,900m. The project is currently in the second stage of its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), with the public invited to submit comments on the ESIA draft report by 10 March 2025. Potential risks identified include noise and pollution affecting marine life—such as whales, dolphins, and African penguins—as well as negative impacts on local fishing livelihoods and the cultural and spiritual significance of the coastline from Port Nolloth to Cape Town. Additionally, fishers and environmental groups are expected to challenge TEEPSA's existing environmental authorisation for the western DWOB in the Cape High Court in February 2025.

• TotalEnergies (TEEPSA) proposes to drill up to seven new exploration wells for oil and gas in the southern Deep Water Orange Basin (DWOB). Each well is expected to take between three and four months to drill.
• The drilling operations will take place 211 km from the coast in deep waters ranging from 500m to 3,900m, which may represent the deepest drilling closest to the shore.
• Potential socio-economic and cultural impacts include reduced fishing profits due to changes in fish behavior and the disruption of spiritual and cultural connections to the coast between Port Nolloth and Cape Town.
• Environmental and fishing organizations intend to challenge the environmental authorisation (EA) granted in 2023 for activities in the western part of the DWOB in the Cape High Court in February 2025.

APA

Natural Justice (2025). IOLI NOPHONONONGO: UNXWEME OLUSENTSHONA. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FINAL_IsiXhosa_TEEPSA-DWOB-South_Info-Pamphlet_EISA.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. IOLI NOPHONONONGO: UNXWEME OLUSENTSHONA. 2025. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FINAL_IsiXhosa_TEEPSA-DWOB-South_Info-Pamphlet_EISA.pdf.

Wikipedia

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

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljustice2025ioli, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{IOLI NOPHONONONGO: UNXWEME OLUSENTSHONA}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FINAL_IsiXhosa_TEEPSA-DWOB-South_Info-Pamphlet_EISA.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }