The Green Net is all about harmony, balance, constructive actions and community upliftment but, once in a while, we have no choice but to speak out against big threats to our environmental security.
Offshore mining for oil and gas is one area that deeply concerns us.
Many locals took part in nationwide protests to prevent Shell mining off the Wild Coast last year (the court case is ongoing), but not everyone realises that some 95% of our entire coastline has been earmarked for oil and gas mining. Last week, TotalEnergies announced that they would buy a licence for oil and gas exploration off the west coast of South Africa.
The Green Net rejects all applications for offshore mining, as well as the associated Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill, for many reasons, including:
1. Exploration for reserves takes the form of seismic blasting, with an array of underwater blasts detonating every 10 seconds, 24/7 for months at a time. Research shows that the noise and pressure waves from these blasts travel thousands of kilometres underwater, disrupting mating, hunting and the ecological functions of the entire marine ecosystem and directly killing animals close to seismic surveys.
2. Drilling and extraction activities cause further noise and damage.
3. Even one oil spill could destroy fishing and tourism on the coast. Companies like Shell and BP are notorious for causing environmental damage and the loss of local livelihoods – Google: Deepwater Horizon or the February 2024 court order for Shell to compensate 13,000 Nigerian families.
4. Offshore oil and gas is being punted as a huge income generator for SA, particularly Black South Africans, but the deals are set up in a way that contradicts this. Only central government (through PASA and Sasol) and the oil companies really stand to get rich, and there is no reason to expect more jobs at the local level.
5. South Africa contributes a lot to greenhouse gases and has signed various international agreements to lower these emissions. We have also received a lot of donations to help with this. New oil and gas ventures completely contradict these promises.
6. Major banks and motor manufacturers are disinvesting in petroleum and other fossil fuels. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s plans are out of touch with modern shifts in energy production and we need more investment in renewable energy sources using new technology.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
