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A factsheet detailing a judicial review application filed by The Green Connection and Natural Justice to challenge the environmental authorisation granted to Total Energies EP South Africa (TEEPSA) Block 567 (Pty) Ltd for oil and gas exploration drilling off the Western Cape coast.

The Green Connection (TGC) and Natural Justice (NJ) are seeking a judicial review in the Western Cape High Court to set aside the environmental authorisation granted to TotalEnergies EP South Africa Block 567 (Total) for exploration drilling between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas. The legal challenge is based on six grounds, including the failure to assess socio-economic impacts on small-scale fisheries, the omission of climate change impacts from gas combustion, and the lack of consideration for transboundary effects on Namibia. In July 2024, Total announced its decision to withdraw from Block 567, where it held a 40% commercial interest. Following this, Total applied to the court to join Shell as a party to the proceedings, a move opposed by TGC and NJ on the grounds that the case concerns the environmental authorisation granted to Total, not the exploration right itself.

The Green Connection (TGC) and Natural Justice (NJ) have filed for judicial review in the Western Cape High Court to overturn the environmental authorisation granted to Total Energies EP South Africa Block 567 (Pty) Ltd for offshore drilling. The challenge is based on six grounds, including failures to assess socio-economic impacts on small-scale fishers, climate change impacts from gas burning, and transboundary risks to Namibia. Following Total's July 2024 announcement of its withdrawal from block 567, the company filed a joinder application to include Shell as a party in the case, which TGC and NJ oppose on the grounds that the exploration right has lapsed and the challenge concerns the authorisation granted to Total, not the exploration right itself.

The document details a judicial review application by Green Connection and Natural Justice to set aside the environmental authorization (EA) granted to TotalEnergies EP South Africa Block 567 (Pty) Ltd for offshore oil drilling between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas. It lists six grounds for review, including failures to assess socio-economic impacts on small-scale fishers, climate change impacts from gas combustion, and transboundary risks to Namibia. Additionally, it notes that TotalEnergies announced its withdrawal from Block 567 in July 2024 and is now seeking to have Shell joined as a party to the legal proceedings, a request opposed by the applicants.