Shell Plc has lost the latest round of a five-year legal fight with environmental activists over a South African oil-exploration campaign that went ahead despite a court order to halt it. The ruling by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria marks a significant setback for the oil major, which has faced intense opposition from local communities and environmental groups over its plans to explore for oil off the coast of South Africa.
The court's decision is a victory for the South African activist group, Transnet Soc Ltd, which had challenged Shell's decision to proceed with the oil-exploration campaign. The group argued that Shell had failed to comply with the court's order to suspend the project, and that the company had also failed to obtain the necessary permits before proceeding with the campaign. The ruling is likely to have significant implications for Shell's operations in South Africa, and may embolden other activist groups to challenge the company's activities in the region.