Deep pockets, deeper waters: Shell’s five-well fling off South Africa meets a wall of salt, science, and small-boat fury

Shell promises ‘energy security’; communities promise court dates.

Shell—the greedy, ruthless, polluting oil giant and perennial sin stock—has a fresh plan to poke holes in the planet: up to five deep-water wells off South Africa’s west coast. Civil society groups and coastal communities have answered with a formal appeal, because someone has to bring a bucket when the world’s richest arsonist shows up with matches.

What Shell just got — and why people are furious

As Reuters reported, “Shell (SHEL.L) has been granted environmental authorisation to drill up to five deep-water wells off South Africa’s west coast, the company said on Friday.” Shell added: “Should viable resources be found offshore, this could significantly contribute to South Africa’s energy security and the government’s economic development programmes.” (Reuters) 

The authorisation covers the Northern Cape Ultra-Deep (NCUD) block, between Port Nolloth and Lamberts Bay, in the Orange Basin—water depths of roughly 2,500–3,200 metres. (Reuters) (Appeal PDF) 

The appeal (and the case against the permit)

Natural Justice and The Green Connection filed a detailed appeal under South Africa’s environmental laws, arguing the EIA and related risk studies downplay oil-spill risks, omit deepwater-specific hazards, skip key baseline ecology, and short-circuit public participation on blowout and spill plans. Read their filing yourself—yes, it’s long, but so is Shell’s track record. (Appeal PDF) 

The recent past: Shell versus South African courts (spoiler: communities fought back)

If this feels like déjà vu, that’s because it is. On 28 December 2021, the Makhanda High Court granted an interdict halting Shell’s Wild Coast seismic survey, finding that “there is a real threat that the marine life would be irreparably harmed by the seismic survey.” The court also held: “Shell was under a duty to meaningfully consult with the communities… Based on all the evidence… Shell failed to do so.” (SAFLII judgment). 

In September 2022, the same court set aside Shell’s exploration right on the Wild Coast as unlawful, a result widely hailed by coastal communities and public-interest law groups. (Natural Justice summary) 

And courts are still scrutinising offshore authorisations. In August 2025, the Western Cape High Court set aside a separate offshore exploration permit (Block 5/6/7) involving TotalEnergies and its joint-venture partner Shell, citing failures to assess oil-spill socio-economic impacts and climate considerations—while allowing a chance to fix the defects. (Reuters) 

What Shell says (this week)

Shell’s country chair has been doing the media rounds to burnish the “energy security” line and the promise of jobs and growth—most recently on CNBC Africa—while the appeal asks why the deepwater risks, cumulative impacts, and full climate costs aren’t squarely on the table. (You can judge the messaging contrast yourself.) (CNBC Africa clip) 

Follow the money: who bankrolls the “ultimate sin stock”?

For all the PR about “transition,” the shareholder register tells a simpler story. BlackRock and Vanguard sit among Shell’s largest investors—the steady hands behind the quarterly cheer. See any mainstream holder rundown for SHELand you’ll meet them near the top. (Yahoo Finance — Holders) (Simply Wall St) 

What’s at stake (beyond a quarterly beat)

• Ecology & fisheries: The appeal flags gaps in baseline science and spill modelling for a biodiversity-rich coast used by small-scale fishers. (Appeal PDF) 

• Deepwater risk: Drilling in >3 km of water isn’t your garden-variety risk; it’s high-consequence, low-margin-for-error engineering—exactly the scenario where missing plans and rosy spill timelines aren’t good enough. (Appeal PDF) 

• Rule of law: South African courts have repeatedly insisted on meaningful consultation and real impact assessment—before the drilling rigs sail. (SAFLII judgment) 

Read the record

• Reuters: “Shell gets permission to drill off South Africa’s west coast.” (link) 

• Natural Justice & The Green Connection appeal (NCUD block): (PDF) 

• Wild Coast interdict judgment (Dec 28, 2021): key findings on consultation and harm. (SAFLII) 

• Court sets aside separate west-coast permit (Block 5/6/7): (Reuters) 

• Who owns Shell (top holders): (Yahoo Finance) 

Disclaimer

Warning: satire ahead. The criticisms are pointed, the humour intentional, and the facts stubbornly real. Quotes are reproduced word-for-word from trusted sources. As for authorship—John Donovan and AI both claim credit, but the jury’s still out on who was really in charge.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.