Diamond Mining Deal Further Threatens South African West Coast

Fishers and environmental activists have taken legal action following a 30-year extension of diamond mining along South Africa's west coast. According to GroundUp, the legal action could profoundly impact the future regulation of mining in South Africa, in particular environmental approvals and public participation.

This marks another in the list of threats to the west coast which has seen the Olifants River estuary facing increased threat from mining interests. This includes the legal saga of an Australian company mining company that levelled a defamation, or SLAPP lawsuit against activists and environmentalists over the Tormin mineral sands project. Industrial plans also include the mining of titanium in Xolobeni on the wild coast in the Eastern Cape province.

French energy giant TotalEnergies also made headlines following the announcement of plans to to drill up to ten exploration wells for oil and gas in the deepwater Orange Basin along the coastline.

This article first appeared on AllAfrica

Photo: AllAfrica