The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has praised Shell’s $5 billion Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Bonga North project, calling it a significant industry boost.
Dr Amina Danmiani, Chairman of the SPE Nigeria Council, gave the commendation on Tuesday, August 5, at the 2025 SPE Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) in Lagos.
Dr Amina Danmiani, Chairman of the SPE Nigeria Council
Danmiani said the Bonga North project, announced late last year, contains over 300 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalent, with peak output expected at 110,000 barrels daily.
She commended Shell’s ongoing commitment to Nigeria’s energy sector, aligning with the conference theme: “Building a Sustainable Energy Future” through technology, supply chain, human capital, and policy.
Echoing her remarks, Mr. Marno de Jong, Shell Nigeria’s Executive Vice President and Country Chair, confirmed that work on the Bonga North project is underway.
“We are proud our Nigerian operations deliver real value – through taxes, local contracts, and social investment in areas like healthcare and education,” de Jong stated.
He reaffirmed Shell’s longstanding partnership with Nigeria, saying the 2025 SPE conference presents a key platform to express continued confidence in the country’s prospects.
Shell received a special award at the conference’s opening for taking the FID on the Bonga North project.
Shell is among more than 60 exhibitors at the event, showcasing its flagship Nigerian companies: Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG).
Also featured at Shell’s stand are All On, an energy access impact investor, and Daystar Power, a solar energy solutions provider operating across West Africa.
Speaking at the stand, Mr. Abidemi Belgore, a Senior Production Geologist at Shell, highlighted the firm’s enduring role in Nigeria’s energy development.
“For over 60 years, Shell has powered Nigeria’s progress – from oil production to transformative social programmes.
“We are leveraging technology and talent to build a sustainable future. This conference offers a great chance to highlight that commitment,” he said.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it will set the general rules for the establishment of a Decommissioning and Abandonment Fund for midstream and downstream petroleum operations.
Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive, NMDPRA, made this known on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in Abuja at its Stakeholders’ Consultation Forum on the Proposed Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Safety and Environmental Regulations 2025.
Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed
The forum was convened by the authority in furtherance of Section 216 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021).
The section mandates consultation with stakeholders prior to the finalisation of regulations made under the Act.
Ahmed was represented by Mr. Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI), NMDPRA, and Chairman, Technical Team on Stakeholders’ Engagement.
He said that it would also provide requirements for the administration of the fund.
“The proposed regulations will streamline activities concerning health, safety and environmental operations, including decommissioning and abandonment in the midstream and downstream petroleum industry,’’ he said.
He said that Section 33 of the PIA was to the effect that the authority may make regulations for all activities relating to midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria.
He, however, reiterated its unwavering commitment towards ensuring full implementation of the PIA in the creation of a vibrant midstream and downstream petroleum sector in Nigeria.
“Accordingly, the proposed 2025 Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Safety and Environmental Regulations consolidated three of the authority’s earlier published regulations into a single document.
“Three of the regulations that were consolidated are Borders of Safety Regulations, Abandonment and Decommissioning Regulations and Environmental Regulations.
“The consolidation process has enabled the NMPDRA to reduce the complexities of navigating and implementing it’s numerous regulations.
“It is aimed at eliminating inconsistencies and repetitions across multiple regulations; and engendering further compliance with the PIA and regulations made thereto,’’ he said.
Ahmed said that the regulations would be read in conjunction with other regulations made by the NMPDRA.
He listed those other regulations to include the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Fees Regulations, 2024 which provides for prescribed fees for petroleum activities.
He thanked the stakeholders for their submissions and participation, adding that the authority would incorporate their feedbacks where applicable, to harmonise the regulations.
In an overview, Dr Joseph Tolorunse, Authority Secretary and Legal Adviser, highlighted the objectives and compliance measures of the regulations.
According Tolorunse, the regulations provides the safety and environmental standards to be observed during petroleum operations.
He said that they also and regulated safety and occupational health practices in the Nigerian midstream and downstream petroleum operations.
He further said that the regulations were aimed at ensuring rehabilitation or management of negative environmental impacts arising from midstream and downstream petroleum operations, while outlining duties of licensees and permit holders.
The secretary said that the draft regulations, which comprised 15 parts and 121 regulations, encompassed all activities concerning health, safety, and environmental operations, including decommissioning and abandonment within the sector.
“In line with Section 216 of the PIA, the authority has convened this forum to enable comprehensive discussions and engagement with its stakeholders aimed at producing a detailed and effective regulatory document,” he said.
He recalled that in 2023, the authority made the three regulations but decided to consolidate the into one regulation.
He said that the new regulation was called Mainstream and Downstream Safety and Environmental Regulations to promote ease of doing business.
Dr Akinwumi Adesina says his passion to mobilise global capital for Africa’s development will continue way beyond his presidency of the African Development Bank, which ends on September 1, 2025.
In a keynote speech titled “Tilting Global Capital for Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Africa”, delivered at the Standard Chartered Africa Summit on July 31, in Lagos, Adesina said: “Together, let us tilt global capital to unlock Africa’s assets. As I step into a new future, you can be sure this will be my focus! For I will always have Africa in my heart and in my sight.”
Akinwunmi Adesina
The Standard Chartered Africa Summit, with the theme, “Africa to the Globe: Innovation, Resilience, and Growth”, brought together corporate leaders, policymakers, investors and other stakeholders. Attendees included Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote; Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Chairman, FSDH Group and Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School; and award-winning author, Chimamanda Adichie.
Adesina kicked off by alluding to his signature optimism about Africa’s prospects. “When I was approached to consider delivering the keynote speech, I did not hesitate. How can someone known as ‘Africa’s Optimist in Chief’ not accept to speak on Africa,” he said.
Highlighting the African Development Bank’s focus on bold financial innovation in the last decade, Adesina declared, “The African Development Bank is not just waiting for more capital, we are innovating to do more with the capital we have. Through our balance sheet optimization initiatives, we are stretching every dollar of risk capital further. Our ambition is threefold: free up capital, crowd in investors and amplify development impact.”
He outlined several ambitious and innovative financing solutions pioneered by the African Development Bank, supported by its AAA rating which it has maintained over the last decade:
Over $102 billion in low-cost financing to Africa since 2015
Capital raise from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion in 2024, the highest in the Bank’s sixty-year history
Spearheading, in partnership with the Inter-American Development, the rechanneling of the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to multilateral development banks – a move that will of the rechanneled SDRs as hybrid capital, which can be leveraged by 4-8 times.
The Africa Investment Forum, launched by the Bank in collaboration with strategic partners, has mobilized over $225 billion in investment interest across infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, manufacturing and other critical sectors, since 2018
The biggest social bond issuance by multilateral development banks, amounting to $14 billion in the past eight years.
$10 billion of long-term global benchmark bonds issued in 2025 alone to finance projects across Africa
The first-ever synthetic securitization of a non-sovereign portfolio by a multilateral development bank, involving the transfer of mezzanine risk of a $1 billion portfolio of private sector loans.
The first-ever private sector hybrid capital transaction by a multilateral development bank, valued at $750 million – with over 275 investors participating with a book order of $5.1 billion, making it the largest ever book order achieved by the African Development Bank.
A Room to Run Sovereign offering that created an estimated $2 billion in new sovereign lending headroom
16 partial credit and partial risk guarantees valued at close to $3 billion, mobilizing $ 5 billion for the continent
A $250 million partial credit guarantee that allowed Egypt to raise the first ever Panda Bond by an African country on the Chinese capital market, valued at $500 million.
Adesina praised Standard Chartered Bank’s successful partnership with the African Development Bank’s successful partnership, which notably delivered a partial credit guarantee for Côte d’Ivoire in 2023 – a deal that won “Sovereign Syndicated Loan Deal of the Year” at the 2025 Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards in Cape Town, South Africa, in April.
“The Standard Chartered Bank participated as the sole lender in the 2023 Cote d’Ivoire’s sustainable loan partial credit guarantee transaction. The African Development Bank was able to unlock €533 million from the Standard Chartered Bank in support of the country’s financing needs.”
He also congratulated Standard Chartered on being named Best Transaction Bank at the Asset Triple A Treasurise Awards in Hong Kong. “Your record breaking 127 accolades reflects an exceptionally strong track record of excellence in banking and finance, globally.”
Adesina urged global financial institutions to partner more strategically with the African Development Bank and other multilateral development banks, to scale up capital flows to Africa.
He called for greater use of risk mitigation and credit enhancement instruments, mainstreaming of best practices in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), and increased collaboration to scale up local currency financing solutions.
Adesina’s delegation included the Bank Group’s Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization Solomon Quaynor, and the Director General of the Nigeria Country Department, Dr. Abdul Kamara.
The African Development Bank’s current active portfolio in Nigeria is the largest in the Bank, valued at $5.1 billion and comprising 52 operations, equally distributed between the public and private sectors, with 26 projects each. National operations account for 84% of the portfolio, while multinational operations constitute the balance of 16%.
The Bank Group is set to establish a Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank in Nigeria, as part of a pan-African portfolio designed to create and finance entrepreneurship opportunities for young Africans.
The Bank is also rolling out Phase 1 of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones across 8 States, including the Federal Capital Territory. Construction has already begun in four States of Kaduna, Cross River, Oyo and Ogun. Phase 2, which will cover the remaining 28 states, is scheduled to take off from September 2025.
Officials of the Abia and Imo State Governments have said that adequate measures have been put in place to avert the perennial challenges of flooding usually experienced every rainy season in the two sister-states.
The Executive Secretary, Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Sunday Jackson, spoke extensively on specific steps already taken by the Gov. Alex Otti-led government to battle the phenomenon this year.
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State
Jackson said in an interview in Umuahia that the government’s efforts were designed to enhance community resilience and reduce flooding risks.
He said that SEMA, collaborating with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had earlier carried out downscaling in some flood-prone communities in the state.
He described downscaling in flood sensitisation as “the process of disseminating early warning strategies to flood-prone communities to increase their preparations against flooding and reduce their risks”.
He said the exercise involved sensitising stakeholders, community leaders, and local government officials on flood risk management, early warning systems, and effective response mechanisms.
He also explained that the agency had been meeting with relevant stakeholders for preparedness to enable it to respond promptly when the disasters eventually occurred.
Jackson said that the government had inaugurated a committee to sensitise communities in the flood-prone Local Government areas (LGAs).
He listed the LGAs identified by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to include Aba North, Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South.
Others were Isuikwato, Ukwa East, Ukwa West, Umuahia North and Umuahia South.
Jackson said that Flood Red Flags Awareness Committee inaugurated by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ogbonna Asonye, was expected to start its two-week-long state-wide sensitisation of flood-prone LGAs from Aug. 4.
He said that the government was extending its measures to other flood-prone LGAs, such as Ikwuano, Ugwunagbo and Obingwa, not mentioned in the NIHSA and NiMet forecasts.
The SEMA boss said that, in addition to the flood risk awareness campaign, the agency had begun stockpiling and pre-positioning of relief materials for areas that would be affected.
Jackson said that SEMA had also identified high ground areas where people could be taken, if their residences got submerged.
“We have a resettlement centre at Mgbarakuma in Umuahia South LGA, even though the construction is ongoing; we are also doing massive assessment of communities affected by flooding.
“The essence is to enable us know those affected, the magnitude of the flood before we seek possible government intervention.
“But the disasters that are beyond the capacity of the state, we can now look out for NEMA and other development partners that will assist to cushion their effect,” he said.
A visit by our correspondent to Umuafai, one of the flood-prone communities in Umuahia North LGA, for an on-the-spot assessment, showed that government had initiated some measures to mitigate the disaster.
A community leader, Chief Patrick Amakwe, confirmed that SEMA, in collaboration with NEMA, did downscaling in the area in May.
“The government officials that came here have sensitised us, including educating us on proper drainage maintenance and de-silting practices,” he said.
Meanwhile, the General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Mr. Ogbonnia Okereke, said the agency had taken steps to guard against potential flood threats in the state.
Okereke said that ASEPA had embarked on an intensive and ongoing clearing and de-silting of drainages, stormwater channels, and natural waterways in the state.
He said that the exercise was crucial in ensuring free flow of water during heavy rainfall, which would reduce the likelihood of flooding.
“We are making sure all the drains and storm channels are clear of debris and soil so that the water can flow freely,” he said.
Okereke said that, in addition to clearing channels, ASEPA had activated the monitoring of water levels in areas known to be susceptible to flooding in the state.
According to him, the agency has a contingency plan in place to relocate residents, should water levels pose a threat.
“There is continuous monitoring, and if the need arises, we will urgently relocate people.
“But of course, relocation is always tricky because many residents don’t want to leave unless they see an immediate danger,” he said.
Okereke further said that ASEPA had also commenced enforcing regulations against indiscriminate building on floodplains and blocking of drainage channels to reduce flood risks.
“We don’t allow anybody to build on natural water channels. If we see such structures, we stop them,” Okereke said.
He explained that flood response efforts were inter-agency coordinated, implying a shared responsibility between ASEPA and other relevant departments, especially for evacuation plans and emergency responses.
“The major constraint is the state’s inability to access ecological funds from the Federal Government, though we are working on it as a government,” he said.
Okereke said that ASEPA had launched public awareness campaigns aimed at changing environmental behaviour among residents.
“We are telling our people not to dump waste into gutters or waterways and keep their environments clean,” he said.
He urged residents to be environmentally-conscious and partner with the government in preserving the ecosystem.
The Executive Director of Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), Mr Nelson Nwafor, said that the foundation had started driving grassroots action to reduce flood risks.
Nwafor said that his organisation had conducted baseline studies and engaged flood-prone communities to assess infrastructure and vulnerability to future flooding.
He said FENRAD was planning a community capacity-building programme in partnership with SEMA and national actors to boost preparedness and resilience.
Nwafor urged government agencies to act swiftly, warning that climate forecasts signalled the real threat of devastating floods in parts of the country.
He described ongoing flooding in Plateau and other states as warning signs of what could happen in Abia, if measures were not urgently taken.
He also expressed concern over the lack of cooperation from government agencies, such as SEMA, which he said had been slow to engage with civil society organisations.
According to him, FENRAD’s attempts to initiate dialogue and offer technical support had not received positive responses from relevant government bodies handling flood mitigation.
He said that government agencies may have their strategies but were not working in synergy with advocacy groups and civil society organisations closer to the communities.
Nwafor stressed that without inclusive planning and shared responsibility, interventions would fall short and communities would remain dangerously exposed to the risks of flooding.
He called for increased awareness campaigns, inclusive mapping of flood-prone areas, and resilience-based infrastructure planning to reduce vulnerability and enhance public safety.
On community participation, he said baseline studies must involve residents, identify problems, responsible actors, time frames, and methods for solving flooding and environmental challenges.
He advocated direct engagement of local populations, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, in all planning, education, and intervention efforts.
According to him, holding events in state capitals was not enough as interventions should happen in communities facing the actual ecological threats and risks.
He said inclusive consultations, site visits, and knowledge sharing remained essential to achieving long-term and community-owned flood solutions in Abia and other vulnerable states.
Also, a journalist, Mr. Imeremba Imeremba, recounted how recent flooding in his community; destroyed household items and forced residents to seek shelter elsewhere until the water receded.
Imeremba said that the community had since started taking precautionary steps, such as safeguarding household belongings at the onset of the rainy season.
He urged the government to provide timely alerts and emergency shelters for flood-prone communities, including enforcing relocation policies and building floodwater restrictions in vulnerable areas.
He also identified harmful local practices, like sand excavation and construction over waterways as key contributors to recurrent flooding in the community.
Also in Imo, stakeholders expressed readiness to implement precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of flooding, following warnings from Nimet and NIHSA.
Contributing, Mr. Nnamdi Igwe, the Head of Operations, NEMA, Owerri Zonal Office, said the agency had held series of meetings with other stakeholders in the state over the impending flooding.
“Last week, we concluded trainings on basic first aid, camp management, and preparedness of stakeholders.
“In terms of stocking of items, NEMA Director-General has graciously approved relief materials in preparedness for the impact of the flood during the rainy season.
“We already have tents and more than enough relief materials all stocked at the Owerri warehouse,” he said.
Igwe said the agency conducted weekly checks on the rising level of the Oguta lake as part of efforts to monitor the situation so as not to be taken unawares.
According to him, it has been raining for over a month non-stop, and during our visit last week, we discovered that the lake had risen a bit.
He said that the agency was collaborating with SEMA and Imo Ministry of Environment on the preparation of camp for those that would likely be displaced by the flood.
The operations officer said that similar preparations were ongoing in Abia, which also falls under the Owerri Zone.
He further disclosed that the Director-General of the agency had approved the delivery of a brand new ambulance for the zone in case of eventualities.
He advised those living around the flood-prone areas to be wary of the river tide, especially at nights when they retired to asleep.
“Everybody should be attentive, listen to news, radios and have their go-bag for quick relocation to upper ground.
“Don’t say the place is your ancestral land and, therefore, sit down and fail to take precautionary measures.
“We should always be prepared as disasters come without warnings,” he emphasised.
He urged those who may not want to go to the camps prepared by the government to move early to other safer upland areas.
“The most important thing is that we don’t have to wait for the flood to come before taking precautionary measures,” he said.
Similarly, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) urged residents of flood-prone areas in the state to adopt preventative measures to mitigate the impact of the impending flood disaster.
The Owerri Area Manager of NIWA, Mr. Vincent Odia, said the authority had initiated sensitisation campaign on flood control and safety on waterways at Oguta in Oguta Local Government Area of the state.
Odia said that the campaign was aimed at preventing avoidable loss of lives and property, following the predicted 2025 flooding.
He emphasised that most accidents on waterways were caused by human carelessness rather than supernatural forces.
“The essence of the engagement was to bring disaster awareness to residents of high-risk areas, where floods usually strike first.
“It would be a great disaster that they went on a journey and did not return.
“Most of these accidents that happen on our waterways are not caused by demons but as a result of our carelessness,” he said.
Odia, therefore, urged residents in flood-prone areas to abide by the directives on safety by avoiding late night transportation on the waterways and also ensure the use of life jackets, among others.
On his part, the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Nelson Abazu, affirmed the state’s commitment to mitigating the effects of the impending flood disaster in the state.
Abazu urged residents of flood-prone areas to relocate to safer grounds.
He assured them that the State Government had concluded necessary logistics to relocate and safeguard the lives and property of residents.
“As soon as we notice the rise in water level, the government will issue alerts and instructions,’’ he said.
Communities in Bayelsa and Delta states have called for the establishment of functional waste management systems, improved access to agricultural inputs and credit as solutions to climate change challenges in their areas.
The call is contained in a statement issued by Mrs. Success Nwanedo, the Senior Communications Officer of Academic Associates Peace works (AAPW), in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State
According to Nwanedo, the communities made the call during town-hall meetings organised by AAPW, with support from the Embassy of Denmark in Nigeria.
She said the town-hall meetings were held across selected communities in Bayelsa and Delta.
Nwanedo said the meetings were part of AAPW ongoing initiative entitled “Advancing Community Capacity to Mitigate Climate Change Impact and Develop Green and Blue Economy in the Niger Delta.”
She said that the meetings were aimed at empowering local communities to take ownership of environmental policies and amplify their voices in climate governance.
Nwanedo explained that participants from the communities shared concerns over the continued pollution of their waterways through oil spills and the health impacts of gas flaring.
“Also, the destruction of marine life by unregulated trawlers, and the visible absence of environmental sanitation infrastructure,” she said.
According to her, some representatives of the communities called for enforcement of conservation laws, and the localisation of environmental policies to reflect community realities.
“They said these policies should be translated from environmental laws on paper to practice,” she stated.
Nwanedo said the AAPW would continue to work with community stakeholders, traditional institutions, and policymakers to turn dialogue into action, strengthening local bylaws, building technical capacity, and deepening environmental accountability.
A decisive chapter in the global fight against plastic pollution began on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Delegates from 184 countries convened for the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2 session).
Opening plenary of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2 session)
This historic mission is to finalise a legally binding international treaty aimed at ending plastic pollution, including in marine environments – and prepare it for adoption at a future Diplomatic Conference.
According to a statement by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the high-stakes negotiations, will run from Aug. 5 to Aug. 14.
It said the negotiations mark the culmination of a two-year process that began in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in 2022, and continued through key sessions in Paris, Nairobi, Ottawa, and most recently, Busan, Republic of Korea, in December 2024.
According to the statement, INC-5.2 has brought together more than 3,700 participants from 184 nations and over 619 observer organisations, making it the most ambitious global environmental negotiation since the Paris Agreement.
“Plastic pollution is already in nature, in our oceans, and even in our bodies. If we continue on this trajectory, the whole world will be drowning in plastic—with massive consequences for planetary, economic, and human health.
“But this does not have to be our future. Agreeing on a treaty text is the first step to beating plastic pollution for everyone, everywhere,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.
Since the last session in Busan, momentum has been building through a series of informal ministerial consultations, regional dialogues, and stakeholder meetings.
However, this Geneva session marks the moment for concrete outcomes.
Luis Vayas Valdivieso, Chair of the INC, said, “We are here today to fulfill an international mandate.
“This is a unique and historic opportunity for the global community to bridge differences and find common ground.
“It is not just a test of our diplomacy; it is a test of our collective responsibility to protect the environment, safeguard human health, enable sustainable economies, and stand in solidarity with those most affected by this crisis,” Valdivieso remarked.
The treaty under negotiation is expected to cover the entire life cycle of plastics from production and design to consumption, disposal, and remediation.
It will also tackle associated issues such as microplastics, extended producer responsibility, financial mechanisms, and technology transfer, crucial to countries in the Global South.
Katrin Schneeberger, Director, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, said: “Plastic waste is choking our lakes, harming wildlife, and threatening human health.
“This is more than just an environmental issue. It is a global challenge that demands urgent and collective action.
“Over the coming days, we have an opportunity to make a real difference by negotiating an effective Plastics Treaty and identifying comprehensive solutions and measures that address the full life cycle of plastic,” he added.
Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the INC, said: “What was set in motion in Nairobi has weathered complexities, moments of challenge, and hard-won progress – and it is precisely this shared endurance that strengthens our resolve and brings us, determined and forward-looking, to this historic hall today.
“Being hosted at the Palais des Nations situates INC‑5.2 within a long tradition of crucial multilateral negotiations, diplomatic breakthroughs, and international legal frameworks. It is essential that this session now be part of that legacy.”
Civil society organisations and coastal communities have launched a formal appeal against the South African government’s controversial decision to green-light Shell’s Northern Cape Ultra Deep (NCUD) oil and gas project.
Led by The Green Connection and Natural Justice, and joined by numerous West Coast communities, the appeal argues that Shell’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report (ESIAR) appears to be riddled with flaws and omissions that may make the approval not only reckless, but potentially unlawful.
Activists protesting against the Shell oil drilling project
“If allowed to proceed, the proposed project will be the deepest offshore well in South Africa and the third deepest in the world. Yet unbelievably, the emergency plans for this highly risky venture remain undisclosed, even to the State,” says Neville van Rooy, Community Outreach Coordinator at The Green Connection.
“Shell wants to drill 3,200 metres below sea level – nearly as deep as where the Titanic wreckage lies. This ultra-deep environment is extremely harsh due to the crushing pressure that results at this depth, which is also always in darkness and consistently near-freezing (below 5°C). With all the challenges that could come with such a project, how can South Africans accept that the company has secured environmental authorisation without providing a detailed strategy showing how it would handle a blowout at such unprecedented depths?
“How could decision-makers have considered all the risks or fully assess the adequacy of the various contingency plans, without having detailed, site-specific emergency response plans,” says van Rooy.
The organisations argue that the final ESIAR unlawfully underestimates the risk and scale of a blowout by relying on an unsupported 20-day oil spill scenario. This estimate assumes that a capping stack located at Saldanha Bay could be installed within that period. However, since the drilling is planned at depths exceeding the stack’s capabilities, Shell should have identified suitable alternative capping solutions.
There are only three capping stacks globally that are equipped for such depths. These are located in the United Kingdom (UK), Singapore, and the United States (US), but it is not clear whether Shell can access or rapidly deploy them to South Africa.
“Even if the Saldanha stack were usable, the 20-day assumption mirrors timelines used for much shallower and more accessible projects and is dramatically shorter than even Shell’s own 100-day estimate for its previous Perdido project (2,450 m depth) and Chevron’s 177-day estimate for shallower operations in the Gulf of Mexico. By modelling an unrealistically short spill duration, the ESIAR significantly underestimates potential impacts and misleads decision-makers. This is a serious flaw in the environmental authorisation,” says van Rooy.
Then there are those communities who are likely to be affected by the project. Since important documents were not made available, there was no real chance for people to have their say on Shell’s oil spill response plans.
Shahil Singh, Legal Advisor at The Green Connection says, “This lack of transparency violates several legal protections, including Section 33 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to fair, reasonable, and lawful administrative action. It also violates Section 3 of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA), which requires that people must be properly informed and given a fair chance to respond when decisions significantly affect their rights or expectations.”
“These omissions are not minor,” says Singh. “It may violate the principles of South African environmental law, which demands transparency, precaution, and public participation that is both substantive and meaningful – especially in high-risk ventures like this. A key question that South Africans should want answered is why was South Africa’s deepest drilling project ever approved without full oil spill contingency plans?”
The appeals also highlight that the EIA failed to consider the combined impact of Shell’s drilling with up to 20 other wells already authorised along the West Coast – a clear breach of South African legal and international best practice standards. The project threatens to derail South Africa’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, with no plan in place to measure or manage the future carbon emissions from oil extracted in the region.
“This isn’t just about one well,” says Singh. “This is about a pattern of pushing through high-risk fossil fuel projects without proper oversight and public scrutiny, and without adhering to environmental law, scientific integrity, or long-term thinking.”
The Green Connection, Natural Justice, and affected coastal communities are calling on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to immediately set aside Shell’s environmental authorisation. They argue that the project is not in the public interest, but instead threatens South Africa’s marine ecosystems, food security, climate commitments, and constitutional rights.
Notably, in July 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a landmark legal opinion to affirm that countries have a binding obligation under international law to address climate change – to phase out fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or face serious legal consequences, including potential liability and reparations.
“We are not against development,” says van Rooy. “But this is not development, it is exploitation – because it doesn’t uplift communities nor protect the environment but destroys instead. We cannot stand by while our ocean and our future are sacrificed for short-term corporate profit. More importantly, this project could violate their constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to their wellbeing, and to have the environment protected for future generations – as guaranteed under Section 2 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).”
Coastal Communities Speak Out
Communities and small-scale fishers are concerned that, if allowed to proceed, the NCUD project could irreparably harm South Africa’s marine ecosystems, undermine the local fishing and tourism economy, and derail progress on climate action – including commitments under the Paris Agreement and the recently signed High Seas Treaty.
Fisher and community leader from Doorn Bay, Deborah de Wee, adds, “Should Shell and Total go ahead with these oil and gas projects, it would be a huge burden on the fishing community. We rely on the ocean for food and our traditional ways of life. Community leader and small-scale fisher from Doorn Bay.
“Shell’s project threatens not just our food and culture but our very survival. Indigenous fishing practices are not commercial on paper, but they are everything to us. We deserve a say, and we say no. The government must protect our indigenous heritage and listen to those who have fished these waters for generations.”
Community advocate with Environmental Traits in Doorn Bay, Bronwyn van Neel, raised concerns about the violation of cultural rights and the failure to gain Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). She says, “Our culture and way of life are being erased by these kinds of projects. Communities like Graafwater and Leipoldtville were not even included in public participation. This is a violation of our constitutional rights and a betrayal by our own government.”
Youth activist and environmental advocate from Richtersveld Youth Language and Environmental Network, Chanel Jaar, says, “This is about protecting not just our ocean, but our cultural identity and future. Shell’s project threatens biodiversity and ignores the risks to those of us who live closest to the sea. We want a sustainable future, which we can have with the just transition, not oil spills and empty promises.”
Small-scale fisher and member of the Aukotowa group in Port Nolloth, Walter Steenkamp, says, “We cannot afford for government to support this oil and gas project with Shell. It threatens our livelihoods as coastal fishers who rely directly on a healthy ocean. Our fishing grounds could be harmed by pollution, noise, or oil spills – and once the damage is done, it cannot be undone. This is how we feed our families, send our children to school, and survive. The ocean is not just a resource – it’s our way of life. Government must put people before profit and protect our ocean for the next generation.”
On the day the final round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty started, hundreds of citizens and civil society organisations from across the world gathered at Place des Nations in Geneva to demand an ambitious and legally binding treaty that puts people and the planet before polluters.
The demonstration, organised by Greenpeace Switzerland and the Break Free from Plastic movement, the Gallifrey Foundation and a growing coalition of environmental and social justice groups, kicked off the last phase of the UN negotiations taking place from August 5 to 14, 2025, at the Palais des Nations.
Ahead of the UN negotiations hundreds of citizens and civil society organisations from across the world gather at Place des Nations in Geneva to demand an ambitious and legally binding plastics treaty that puts people and the planet before polluters. Protesters wear yellow, red and orange to symbolise the urgency of the crisis and the danger posed by the unchecked production of plastic, which is overwhelmingly derived from fossil fuels.
Protesters wore yellow, red and orange to symbolise the urgency of the crisis and the danger posed by the unchecked production of plastic, which is overwhelmingly derived from fossil fuels.
“As host country of the negotiations on plastic pollution, we count on Switzerland to stay firm on the ambition of the future Global Treaty. With plastic production set to triple by 2050, the treaty would be bound to fail without a global target to reduce plastic production. We need to end the age of plasticto protect our health, our communities and our planet,” saidJoëlle Hérin, expert in consumption and circular economy at Greenpeace Switzerland.
For African nations, the treaty represents a critical opportunity to address the disproportionate burden of plastic pollution on the continent. Despite generating less plastic waste per capita than developed nations, African communities suffer severely from the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution, exacerbated by waste dumping from Global North countries.
Hellen Dena, Greenpeace Africa’s Pan-Africa Plastics Project Lead, said: “Our communities are drowning in plastic waste while contributing just a fraction of global production. We need a treaty that addresses plastic pollution at its source by cutting production rather than shifting the burden to those least responsible.
“Governments must not side with the petrochemical industry as we negotiate the Global Plastics Treaty. We cannot let oil-producing countries, at the behest of big oil and petrochemical companies, dominate and slow down the treaty discussions and weaken its ambition.”
Plastic production is expected to triple by 2050 if no global action is taken. Since China’s 2018 ban on plastic waste imports, Africa has become an increasingly targeted destination for plastic waste exports, creating toxic dumping grounds that contaminate soil, water sources, and air in local communities.
Scientists are only beginning to understand the long-term effects of plastics on our health. According to UNEP, there are over 16,000 chemicals used and present in plastic, at least 4,200 of which are highly hazardous to human and environmental health.
“Any effective treaty must ensure a just transition for waste pickers across Africa. An estimated 20 million people worldwide work in informal waste collection, with a significant portion in Africa. Many African initiatives are already pioneering plastic-free alternatives, reuse systems, and community-led waste management solutions that could serve as models globally,” added Dena.
African nations have demonstrated leadership at previous negotiations, with countries such as Rwanda and Ghana advocating for progressive positions on production caps and the phase-out of problematic plastics. Greenpeace Africa calls on Member States to demand cuts in plastic production through a phase-out approach, from production to disposal, to protect the environment and human health of Africans.
They must also call for strengthened synergy with the Basel and Bamako conventions that will play a critical role in eliminating Africa’s added burden of plastic waste dumping.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, marked a historic leadership transition as outgoing Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw, handed over responsibilities to Yasmine Fouad, former Minister of Environment of Egypt, at the Convention’s secretariat headquarters in Bonn, Germany.
A Mauritanian national, Thiaw led the UNCCD secretariat since 2019, having served the environment movement for more than 40 years, the last 12 with the United Nations. Under his leadership, the Convention advanced in its mission to protect people and ecosystems by restoring our land and ensuring a safer, just, and more sustainable future.
Outgoing UNCCD Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw (right), with the incoming, Yasmine Fouad
While land degradation and desertification are perceived as insurmountable challenges, the UNCCD has proved that land restoration unlocks multiple solutions. There are few places on earth where this is truer than in Africa’s Sahel, the (greater) Middle East and Central Asia.
The UNCCD has thus supported Parties in need develop and carry out large-scale restoration activities, such as the Great Green Wall(s) in Africa or the Middle East Green Initiative. Bringing degraded land back to health generates more food on the table, stabilizes economies and societies, combats climate change and restores water and biodiversity. The G20 Global Land Restoration Initiative also contributes to such effort.
The last four years have seen an awakening in the need for stepped up global efforts to build resilience to increasingly frequent and intense droughts, culminating in the launch of the International Drought Resilience Alliance in 2022 and the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership in 2024, backed by strong political and financial commitments.
Human face: The mandate of the UNCCD cut across human wellbeing and ecosystem protection in a context of vulnerability or scarcity. In that context, local communities, small holders, youth women and indigenous people have been at the center of the attention. At UNCCD COP16, UNCCD Parties took bold decisions to ensure meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and youth in the Convention’s processes. Advancing women’s land rights has been the focus of the UNCCD’s advocacy work, building on the Convention’s strong record in promoting gender equality.
Public-private partnerships: While commendable progress has been made thanks to public investments, a UNCCD study conducted by the UNCCD in 2024 revealed that investments made by the private sector in land restoration represent just 6 per cent of the total. To mobilise private sector investment in support of land restoration and drought resilience, UNCCD has therefore forged cooperation frameworks with institutions such as the World Economic Forum and launched the Business4Land Initiative.
Science-policy dialogue: The UNCCD strives to make decisions, and propose policies backed by science. In that context, building a stronger Science-Policy Interface was essential. COP16 gave mandate for a stronger voice of science in decision-making.
Outgoing Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw, said: “I’ve witnessed firsthand how degraded land turns into restored landscapes and revived livelihoods—this transformation inspired every step of my journey. I am proud to have led the UNCCD Secretariat in changing the world’s perspective from land as a problem, to land as one of the most powerful solutions for sustainable development. I thank the UNCCD Parties for their support and warmly welcome the next Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad, to whom I entrust a stronger and more inclusive secretariat with renewed momentum.”
Yasmine Fouad, who served since 2018 as Egypt’s Environment Minister, brings over 25 years of environmental diplomacy experience at the intersection of climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development, having chaired CBD COP14 and served as Envoy for UNFCCC COP27, leading negotiations on climate finance and nature-based solutions.
Incoming UNCCD Executive Secretary, Yasmine Fouad, said: “I am deeply honored to take up this mantle and thank my predecessor Ibrahim Thiaw for his invaluable contribution to the Convention and broader sustainable development agenda of the United Nations. Building on UNCCD’s 30-year-strong legacy, I will champion integrated solutions across land, climate and biodiversity and committed to build with all parties and stakeholders ambitious comprehensive post-2030 targets.
“Together, the UNCCD will deepen partnerships, amplify voices of the most affected, and drive bold actions to heal our lands, build resilience to droughts, restore our ecosystems and secure people’s futures.”
Shell is highlighting its contributions to the growth of oil industry in Nigeria at an exhibition at the annual international conference of the Nigeria Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) which opened on Monday, August 4, 2025, in Lagos. It comes as Shell received an award for the Bonga North FID at the opening ceremony.
Shell is among more than 60 exhibitors at the conference, with a stand featuring the flagship of its business in Nigeria, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo) as well as Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), All On, an impact investment company that supports improved access to energy in Nigeria, and Daystar Power, which provides integrated solar power to businesses across West Africa.
L-R: Asset Development & Development Subsurface Manager, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Chike Aginah; SNEPCo’s Snr Production Geologist, Abidemi Belgore; Executive Commissioner , Development and Production , Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Engr. Enorense Amadasu; Authority Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Engr. Farouk Ahmed; Society of Petroleum Engineers , Council Chairman, Engr Dr. Amina Danmadami and the Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources, RT Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, during dignitary tour to the Shell booth at the 2025 Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) , an annual event organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council at Eko Hotel
The Minister of State for Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, led dignitaries on a tour of the stand.
“Shell has been powering progress in Nigeria for more than 60 years ago, by pioneering oil and gas production onshore and deep-water and implementing wide-ranging social investments that have improved lives across the country,” Snr Production Geologist, Abidemi Belgore, said as he received the visitors. “We believe in leveraging technology and human resource for a resilient and sustainable energy future, and we are happy to showcase our support for end-to-end energy sustainability.”
SPE recognised Shell for the $5 billion Bonga North FID which was announced late last year. Bonga North currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and will reach a peak production of 110,000 barrels of oil a day. The project is currently being executed.
“We are pleased that our businesses in Nigeria have delivered tangible benefits to the country through the taxes and royalties we pay, the local businesses we support with contract awards and the lives we have touched in social investments ranging from health to education,” Executive Vice President and Country Chair Nigeria, Marno de Jong said in comments on the award. “Shell continues to partner with stakeholders for the development of Nigeria, and the 2025 SPE conference is a good platform to restate our confidence in the future of the country.”
