Orange Basin: South Africa clears the way for drilling in Block 3B/4B

South Africa's environment minister has dismissed every appeal against exploration drilling in Block 3B/4B, the TotalEnergies-operated licence off the West Coast. It is the clearest signal yet that South Africa's side of the Orange Basin — the same geology that produced Namibia's giant discoveries — can move from court rooms to drilling.

What was decided

In a decision dated 13 October, Environmental Affairs Minister David Maynier rejected appeals from 47 individuals and organisations, including Greenpeace Africa, against the 2024 environmental authorisation that allows up to five exploration wells in the block (Reuters, 16 October 2026). The minister did add conditions on food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities. The authorisation was originally granted to Africa Oil SA, Ricocure and Azinam; TotalEnergies and QatarEnergy later took stakes, with TotalEnergies as operator.

It is not the final word. Under South African law, opponents can still ask a court to review the decision, and appeals and court actions have stalled offshore exploration in the country for years. TotalEnergies has welcomed the ruling and committed to environmental monitoring and marine protection; Greenpeace Africa called it a "critical failure" of environmental governance.

Why it matters

Across the border, Namibia's Orange Basin already holds Venus and Mopane, among the largest deepwater finds of the decade. South Africa's acreage has been the obvious next step, held back by permitting rather than geology. If wells are drilled in 3B/4B, South Africa gets a chance at domestic oil and gas supply in a country that imports most of its liquid fuels and is short of gas for power and industry.

For suppliers, an exploration campaign means demand for seabed survey, drilling and well services, environmental monitoring and logistics out of Cape Town and Saldanha Bay. The conditions attached to the decision also make one thing clear: community, fisheries and environmental work will be scrutinised as closely as the wells themselves.

What we tell our clients

Saga's office is in Cape Town, so this is home ground for us. Three points. First, plan for a possible court review: treat timelines as likely, not certain. Second, the suppliers that win in a new South African basin will be the ones that arrive with proven technology, local partners and a credible answer on fisheries and coastal communities. Third, the same Norwegian subsea and well technology being specified in Namibia applies here — brownfield or greenfield.

If you operate on the Atlantic margin, or work with the authorities on permitting and local content, talk to us.