OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION: THE WEST COAST

TotalEnergies (TEEPSA) is seeking environmental authorisation for offshore oil and gas exploration in the southern Deep Water Orange Basin (DWOB) block. The project involves drilling up to seven wells 211 km from the shore at depths between 500m and 3,900m. Potential risks include harm to migratory marine species from noise and pollution, reduced fishing income due to changes in fish behaviour, and impacts on the cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples and small-scale fishing communities along the coast from Port Nolloth to Cape Town. The public is invited to comment on the Draft ESIA Report until 10 September 2025.

• TotalEnergies (TEEPSA) plans to drill up to seven wells in the ocean, with each well taking 3-4 months to complete. The drilling will occur 211 km from the shore at depths ranging from 500m to 3,900m, which may represent the deepest offshore drilling.
• Drilling activities will involve the discharge of waste materials, including cuttings, drilling fluids, and leftover cement, onto the seabed. Well testing will utilize Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) with airgun arrays to create geological images.
• The project poses risks to marine life, specifically migratory species such as whales, dolphins, sharks, billfish, tunas, leatherback turtles, and the African penguin, through noise, pollution, and waste. Oil spills could contaminate fishing areas and damage both coastal and ocean environments.
• Socio-economic and cultural impacts include potential reductions in fishing income due to altered fish behaviour and threats to the spiritual and cultural heritage of small-scale fishing communities and Indigenous peoples along the coastline between Cape Town and Port Nolloth.

APA

Natural Justice (2025). OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION: THE WEST COAST. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TEEPSA-DWOB-South_Info-Pamphlet_EISA_Aug2025_V1.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION: THE WEST COAST. 2025. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TEEPSA-DWOB-South_Info-Pamphlet_EISA_Aug2025_V1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION: THE WEST COAST |date=September 2025 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TEEPSA-DWOB-South_Info-Pamphlet_EISA_Aug2025_V1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljustice2025oil, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION: THE WEST COAST}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2025}, month = sep, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TEEPSA-DWOB-South_Info-Pamphlet_EISA_Aug2025_V1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }