Shell forges ahead with Wild Coast seismic survey
Shell says it's going ahead with its planned seismic survey on the Eastern Cape's Wild Coast, despite protestations from some communities and environmental activists.
Some organisations had their application to interdict the survey dismissed by the High Court in Makhanda last week.
More court applications are being brought.
The oil company says it notes the public outcry over its planned activities in the ocean.
It's written an open letter defending the survey and explaining why it's carrying it out.
It says the country is relying heavily on coal for electricity generation and there's a need for transition to a lower and zero-carbon emissions future.
Shell has also responded to concerns that marine life will be harmed during the exercise.
The company says an independent team will monitor the presence of marine mammals before and during the seismic survey.
However, Janet Solomon, the co-founder of Oceans Not Oil, has reservations about this type of observation.
"The mitigatory measures of having marine mammals observers onboard is stock standard. Those marine mammal observers have a 500-metre radius vision from the boat. That's all they have.
"You must remember that these air guns spread out sometimes up to kilometres behind the boat so the question then remains is how much are they honestly seeing of the equipment and of animals? and this is at sea."
Shell has also promised to conduct the survey outside the sensitive environmental window period for migrating whales.
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