Energy major TotalEnergies has requested environmental authorization to drill up to seven exploration wells, offshore South Africa. The company plans to explore an area covering 15,000km2 in the southern Deepwater Orange Basin, according to Reuters.
Targeting an area in the basin between Port Nolloth and Saldanha Bay, TotalEnergies contracted consultancy group SLR to carry out an environmental impact analysis as part of the operation’s regulatory requirements.
The energy major was granted permission by South Africa’s government in 2023 to explore for oil in the northern part of the basin in 2023, where other oil companies – such as Shell – have made prolific discoveries in recent years.
