South African fishermen and environmental activists must convince Europeans and their leaders that TotalEnergies’ new South African mission carries significant risks.
Since September 5, 2010, when TotalEnergies applied for a license to expand two fuel blocks off South Africa’s southern coast, the company has faced opposition, despite the benevolence of South African authorities.
Environmental activists have joined fishing communities in denouncing the danger of Mossel Bay, a domain in the south of the country characterized by its biodiversity hotspot, on which the tourism industry depends.
Following a petition filed on 17 October, the warring parties to the fuel extraction task now intend to strike a blow in Europe, mobilising public opinion and decision-makers in the northern hemisphere.
Together with South Africa’s marine conservation organization Bloom and Green Connection, South African artisanal fishers are clamoring for an “amplification of the climate crisis” that could, in short, put an end to an age-old profession.
If the license were granted to TotalEnergies for an investment of about 3,000 million dollars and estimated reserves of more than one billion barrels of oil equivalent, it would be expected to drill at an intensity of 1,700 m, with wells leading to the direction of migration of giant aquatic mammals. like killer whales.
Activists blame the non-renewable energy industry and South African politicians. With the national electric power grid on the verge of collapse and South Africa still getting 80% of its electricity from coal, much to the chagrin of environmentalists, Gwede Mantashe, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, sees TotalEnergies’ new allocation as an opportunity to diversify electric power towards a “sustainable transition”.
And environmental NGOs shout “greenwashing,” because fuel is a transitional energy, even if it is less polluting than coal.
Patrick Pouyanné, chief executive of the French oil company, points out that “TotalEnergies EP South Africa has already voluntarily reduced the scope of the license application by excluding the domain recently classified by the South African government as a marine domain. “
The allocation is awaiting an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to explain the economic, social and environmental impacts.
He continues.