South Africa Says $1.6 Billion of Oil Projects Halted in Court

Protesters outside the Africa Energy Week conference in Cape Town, on Sept. 30.Photographer: Paul Burkhardt/Bloomberg

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September 30, 2025 at 7:50 AM UTC

South African oil and gas investments valued as much as $1.6 billion have been stopped by legal challenges brought by environmental groups, illustrating the resistance energy companies face from civil society organizations in the country.

Since 2021 five offshore exploration projects were “halted and/or postponed” as a result of court action by non-governmental organizations, Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum Gwede Mantashe said in a reply to parliamentary questions.