KNYSNA NEWS - On Wednesday 7 December, fishermen in Knysna joined a peaceful nationwide protest with The Green Connection against the destruction of the ocean and to demand an end to the exploration and extraction of any new climate change-escalating fossil fuel projects.
"The world is in a climate crisis, which means we should be making moves to (eventually, but steadily) cancel all fossil fuels, not discover more fossil fuel reserves and increase production - this contradicts the energy transition currently underway," says The Green Connection's community outreach coordinator, Neville van Rooy.
"We believe that all applications for new projects should be stopped and that companies like TotalEnergies should instead invest their huge profits to transition away from fossil fuels."
Julie Danhaussen, a small-scale fisher from Knysna, says, "The picket on 7 December was to tell Total we are not interested in oil and gas exploration that will destroy our ocean and contribute to climate change, in South Africa. No to oil and gas! Forward fishers, forward!"
Fighting French exploitation
The picket formed part of civil society mobilising for a just energy transition. Through its campaign, #OceanTotalDestruction, the Green Connection has called out the French company NGO Bloom, which continues to reap significant profits (up 131%) from offshore oil and gas exploration and production at the expense of the climate, healthy oceans and the dignity and livelihoods of those who depend on the oceans.
"With France supposedly being such a key player in global climate action efforts, it seems hypocritical that one of its largest companies is allowed to pursue extractive fossil fuel projects here in the global south," said Van Rooy.
String of applications
According to Van Rooy, within mere weeks of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), fossil fuel companies have already released a string of oil and gas application documents for public comment in South Africa, with TotalEnergies leading the charge.
He says that The Green Connection recently made no less than five submissions on companies' applications to either conduct offshore seismic surveys and/or for exploration and production activities, with TotalEnergies having an interest in most.
Civil society is particularly concerned about the environmental authorisation applications by TotalEnergies SA to undertake exploration well drilling in the Deep Western Orange Basin Licence Block (off the West Coast of South Africa) and in Licence Block 5/6/7 (off the southwestern coast of South Africa), as well as an application for authorisation to undertake production drilling and related activities in Licence Block 11B/12B off Mossel Bay.
"But Total is not the only problem. We also have to contend with multi-client seismic survey companies like Searcher and TGS, as well as the contentious Karpowership gas-to-power projects planned for three South African ports. None of these are good for the climate or for the people," says Van Rooy.
Protestors make their voices heard during the protest in Knysna.
No IEP in SA
The Green Connection's advocacy officer, Kholwani Simelane, says it needs to be asked whether there is a link between South Africa not having an integrated energy plan (IEP) and the energy crisis.
"Since energy is the lifeblood of the economy, impacting all sectors including individual livelihoods, integrated and inclusive energy planning is critical to ensure that current and future energy needs are met in the most environmentally sustainable, cost-effective, efficient, and socially beneficial ways, while also taking climate change into account."
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
