TotalEnergies in die Diep Water Oranje Kom-blok

The document details a legal challenge in the Western Cape High Court scheduled for March 2026. The applicants argue that the environmental authorisation granted to TotalEnergies for exploration in the Deep Water Orange Basin (DWOB) block ignores climate commitments, underestimates oil spill risks in waters deeper than 2,000 metres, threatens the food security of small-scale fishers in areas like Port Nolloth, and fails to comply with the Integrated Coastal Management Act.

• The legal challenge argues that the environmental authorisation for the Deep Water Orange Basin (DWOB) project is contrary to South Africa's net-zero commitments and relies on an outdated 'bridge fuel' narrative that ignores the long-term costs of gas dependency and the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the eventual extraction and combustion of gas.
• The applicants contend that the project poses significant environmental risks due to ultra-deep drilling in waters exceeding 2,000 metres, where the government failed to apply the precautionary principle and relied on an oil spill response plan that has not been tested under South African conditions.
• The authorisation is challenged for prioritising corporate profits over the livelihoods and food security of vulnerable coastal communities, specifically citing the impact on small-scale fishers in Port Nolloth who already face declining fish stocks and climate change.
• The legal action asserts that the state neglected its duty as a public trustee by failing to consider the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act during the decision-making process for the project.

APA

Natural Justice (n.d.). TotalEnergies in die Diep Water Oranje Kom-blok. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Afrikaans_Factsheet_TEEPSA-DWOB-North-Court-Case-Final.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. TotalEnergies in die Diep Water Oranje Kom-blok. n.d. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Afrikaans_Factsheet_TEEPSA-DWOB-North-Court-Case-Final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=TotalEnergies in die Diep Water Oranje Kom-blok |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Afrikaans_Factsheet_TEEPSA-DWOB-North-Court-Case-Final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljusticendtotalenergies, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{TotalEnergies in die Diep Water Oranje Kom-blok}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Afrikaans_Factsheet_TEEPSA-DWOB-North-Court-Case-Final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }