French energy giant TotalEnergies is moving forward with plans to begin offshore oil drilling in South Africa by 2026.
Mike Sangster, Senior Vice President for Africa at TotalEnergies, confirmed the company’s intention during the Invest in African Energy Forum held in Paris.
He stated that drilling activities will commence once all required regulatory approvals are secured.
TotalEnergies currently holds exploration rights for four offshore blocks in South African waters, including the Brulpadda and Luiperd fields located in the Outeniqua Basin.
However, the company’s exploration plans have come under fire from environmental groups, notably The Green Connection and Natural Justice, an advocacy group.
The groups have filed a judicial review application at the Western Cape High Court, challenging the environmental authorization granted to TotalEnergies EP South Africa (TEEPSA) for drilling activities in Blocks 5/6/7, situated offshore between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas.
The applicants argue that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process was flawed and failed to properly assess the risks to marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.
Legal proceedings, which began earlier this month, focus on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment’s 2023 decision to approve the project.
Environmental advocates also contend that the authorization lacked transparency and violated constitutional and environmental obligations.
Despite these legal challenges, TotalEnergies remains committed to its South African exploration strategy.
The company has submitted a joinder application to formally join the ongoing court case, alongside Shell, which also holds a stake in the contested offshore blocks.
The outcome of the case is likely to have far-reaching implications for South Africa’s offshore oil and gas industry, potentially reshaping future exploration activity and environmental governance.
In 2024, Shell announced its plan to exit South Africa’s downstream sector to concentrate on upstream operations—particularly offshore exploration—which has continued to draw criticism from local climate advocacy groups.
In April 2025, the South African government released draft regulations for the upstream petroleum sector, inviting public feedback to shape a more robust regulatory environment.
