By Nneka Nwogwugwu
An environmental Non-governmental organization, Oceans Not Oil, has urged South Africans to sign a petition against Shell’s notification of a seismic survey to be conducted in the Eastern Cape from December 1.
Oceans Not Oil is a network that facilitates and supports any public voice raised against the impacts of escalating reconnaissance/ prospecting activities in the form of seismic surveys and exploration wells on the coast of South Africa and their consequence to marine life and climate change.
The organisation posted a notice by SLR Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd on behalf of Shell Exploration and Production South Africa. It further stated Shell has appointed Shearwater GeoServices to perform a 3D seismic survey within its Transkei Exploration Area off the East Coast of South Africa from December 1.
It said the survey would cover an area approximately 6 011 km² located between Port St Johns and Morgans Bay.
According to Eloise Costandius from SLR Consulting, the survey area is located more than 20 km from the coast at its closest point in water depths ranging between 700 and 3 000 m. She said it is anticipated that the seismic survey would take in the order of four to five months to complete, depending on weather and current conditions.
Source: IOL