Application to interdict Shell's Wild Coast blasting
Four environmental and human rights groups have gone to court to try to stop Shell from going ahead with a controversial ocean blasting project off the Wild Coast.
The oil and gas giant has faced a backlash over plans to carry out the seismic survey from Wednesday to search for hydrocarbon deposits beneath the seabed.
It says it's followed all the relevant processes and has implemented mitigation measures to ensure that no marine life is harmed.
Supporting law firm Cullinan and Associates says their interdict will be heard in the high court in Grahamstown on Wednesday.
Cormac Cullinan believes the activity's unlawful, saying the company doesn't have the environmental authorisation to go ahead with the survey.
He says the affected parties weren't given the choice to lodge an appeal.
"What we are hoping for is simply to get and order which will stop in starting the seismic survey for a short time in order for us to put proper papers before the court with expert evidence about the impact.
"We already know that of the oil and gas reserves which have been discovered and proven around the world only about 40 percent of those can be burnt without causing catastrophic climate change.
"So it really makes to sense to be looking for more reserves when the ones that have already been found can't be used."
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