In a major victory for environmentalists and coastal communities, a South African court has revoked oil giant Shell’s permit to explore for off-shore oil and gas in an ecologically sensitive area.
Activists have long argued that exploration in the Wild Coast area – a 250km (155miles) stretch of untouched shoreline will harm marine life.
The court set aside a 2014 decision by the government to grant Shell exploration rights in the area. It also set aside a 2021 renewal of the rights.
Shell will no longer be able to conduct controversial seismic surveys of the ocean, which environmentalists argued was detrimental to marine life and ecology. Shell still has leave to appeal.
Coastal communities have campaigned for sustainable eco-tourism of the Wild Coast instead of drilling for oil and gas.