(AFP / ASTRID VELLGUTH)
The project to exploit the Brulpadda gas field had triggered the ire of environmental NGOs in October 2022, which had notably denounced “South African deep-water drilling operations” likely to threaten “small-scale fishermen and spectacular biodiversity”.
This Monday, July 29, TotalEnergies announced its withdrawal from
two offshore gas fields off the coast of South Africa.
The French oil giant justifies this decision by invoking the
“encountered difficulties
to develop and promote “two gas discoveries made there” on the South African market”
“Following the decision of partner CNRI to withdraw from Block 11B/12B, TotalEnergies also announces its withdrawal from this block located off the southern coast of South Africa,” the company said in a statement on Monday. Block 11B/12B covers an area of 19,000 km2, with water depths ranging from 200 to 1,800 meters. TotalEnergies holds the block through its subsidiary TotalEnergies EP South Africa
a 45% stake,
alongside Qatar Petroleum (25%), CNR International (20%) and the South African consortium Main Street 1549 (10%).
Since joining the bloc in 2013,
two important gas discoveries
have been made: one at Brulpadda and one at Luiperd, both located in the Outeniqua basin, 175 kilometres off the South African coast. However,
These two discoveries could not be converted into commercial development
given the difficulties encountered in developing and promoting these gas discoveries on the South African market,” regrets TotalEnergies.
Qatar Petroleum also withdraws
The project to exploit the Brulpadda gas field was launched in October 2022
the ire of environmental NGOs.
The Bloom association and the South African NGO The Green Connection had notably denounced “South African deep water drilling operations” likely to
threaten “small-scale fishermen and spectacular biodiversity”.
CNR International (20%) had already announced in early July that it was withdrawing from the 11B/12B field. In addition to TotalEnergies, Qatar Petroleum (25%) also announced its withdrawal on Monday, according to a press release from Africa Energy Corp, a Canadian oil company that owns part of Main Street 1549. Under the agreement that bound the four partners, “the parties that withdraw
transfer their participation free of charge
to each of the partners who do not withdraw”, specifies Africa Energy Corp, which has “no intention of withdrawing” and should therefore ultimately “hold a 100% stake in block 11B/12B”.
In addition, “TotalEnergies has also decided to withdraw from the offshore exploration block 5/6/7, in which TotalEnergies EP South Africa holds a 40% interest,” the company added on Monday. In addition to these two blocks, TotalEnergies operates in South Africa
four other deep offshore exploration permits,
including one acquired “recently” in block 3B/4B.