Oil rig

Nigeria lost its crown as Africa’s largest crude producer as Angola surpassed the country for the first time in more than five years. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

Oil rig headed to drill in South Africa’s waters

An oil rig is headed for waters off South Africa where a surge of legal moves to block fossil-fuel exploration has taken place.

Oil rig

Nigeria lost its crown as Africa’s largest crude producer as Angola surpassed the country for the first time in more than five years. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

A rig hired by Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas and partners is headed for waters off South Africa where a surge of legal moves to block fossil-fuel exploration has taken place, according to Bloomberg.

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Community and environmental activists have blocked two seismic surveys through lawsuits since December 2021, including one commissioned by Shell Plc.

The groups have cited risks to marine life and criticised the consultation processes.

South Africa’s energy minister has encouraged the quest for oil and gas in a country that lacks significant domestic output.

Other government officials have pressed for a quicker move toward cleaner energy sources, with the planned transition including using gas, which along with oil is primarily imported by the country.

Eco Atlantic’s Gazania-1 prospect is targeting a 300-million-barrel light-oil resource in Block 2B, 25km offshore the Northern Cape Province, the company said on Friday.

The Island Innovator rig is expected to arrive and start the well, subject to weather conditions, by the end of September this year.

It’s currently offshore the coast of Norway, according to Bloomberg ship tracking data.