South Africa: OPASA Welcomes Decision Upholding Orange Basin Drilling Approval

The Offshore Petroleum Association of South Africa (OPASA) has welcomed the government’s decision to uphold environmental authorisation for proposed exploration drilling in Block 3B/4B in the Orange Basin off the country’s west coast.

In a statement to Energy News Africa Ltd, the association said the decision by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment marked an important step towards greater regulatory certainty for South Africa’s offshore petroleum sector.

Regulatory certainty was essential to attracting the long-term investment needed to explore and develop offshore resources responsibly, OPASA said.

The association said this required a thorough and transparent process in which projects were carefully assessed and stakeholders had meaningful opportunities to raise concerns. Such a process would build confidence among communities, regulators and investors, it added.

“Exploration is a critical step in establishing whether the country holds commercially viable offshore oil and gas reserves, with the potential to strengthen energy security and support economic growth, job creation, skills development and downstream industry,” OPASA said.

The association said it remained committed to advocating for responsible offshore development that protected the environment, addressed stakeholder concerns and supported South Africa’s long-term economic and energy needs.

The decision follows appeals by 47 individuals and organisations, including Greenpeace Africa, against a 2024 authorisation allowing up to five exploration wells.

The minister dismissed the appeals but added conditions concerning assessments of food security and coastal livelihoods.

Greenpeace Africa criticised the decision, which remains open to judicial review.

TotalEnergies operates Block 3B/4B, with QatarEnergy among its partners. The block covers about 17,581 square kilometres in the Orange Basin, where discoveries off neighbouring Namibia have encouraged further exploration. In announcing its entry into the block in 2024, TotalEnergies linked the investment to its exploration efforts following the Venus discovery in Namibia.