Shell Wild Coast backlash: Petrol stations cut ties over oil exploration
Oil giant Shell has now lost around 30 South African petrol stations. Owners are boycotting the brand over it’s upcoming seismic survey.
Public outcry continues to grow over the Shell Wild Coast saga. The oil and gas giant, and brand seen on MANY petrol stations, seems to be losing the support of a few petrol station owners. Shell will begin to blast the shores of the Wild Coast with “seismic surveys”. This is all in the hope of finding pockets of oil or gas.
Eastern Cape fuel supplier Express Petroleum, which owns around 35 petrol stations, has begun debranding all of its Shell associated retail sites.
The group says it is “extremely passionate” about South Africa and the country’s sustainability of its coastlines.
A petition by environmentalists Oceans Not Oil has been signed more than 300 000 times.
The group and other activists have pointed to data that shows that seismic blasting damages marine animals. In some cases even leaves them with hearing loss. Many sea creatures use sound in order to find food and mates.
The seismic survey has been given the go-ahead by the South African government.