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The Star
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Environmental activists protest against Standard Bank and Total Energies over fossil fuel financing
Koketso Phasha | Published 17 minutes ago A coalition of activist groups, Stop East African Crude Oil Pipeline (StopEACOP) embarked on a protest in Johannesburg with the intention of voicing their frustrations against Standard Bank and Total Energies for their alleged exploitative and non-environmentally friendly activities in Africa. According to StopEACOP, Standard Bank has positioned itself as a chief accomplice to Total Energies' wreckage across the African continent and is bankrolling the exploitation, destruction and harm imposed onto so many communities. In a memorandum on Tuesday, the coalition said to Total Energies: "We, organisations, communities and ordinary people from across South Africa and the African continent, are united in our unequivocal condemnation of Total Energies and its destructive fossil fuel operations. "As communities and activists demonstrate, come together and speak out through this week of action (18-24 August 2025), we send a clear and urgent message that Total must back off." Zaki Mamdoo, a coordinator of the StopEACOP outlined that the demonstration, part of a continentwide Week of Action (August 18-24), calls on the bank to sever ties with the oil giant over alleged plundering and ecological destruction across Africa. Expressing contentment and hope to succeed, the coalition said: "We welcome the decision of the Western Cape High Court setting aside the exploration right granted to Total Energies and its partners to pursue offshore oil and gas drilling along South Africa's southwest coast. The court found that the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) and Total Energies failed to adequately consult affected communities and ignored the serious environmental and climate risks posed by the project. This judgment is a victory for coastal communities, small-scale fishers, and environmental defenders who have long resisted the imposition of destructive projects that threaten their livelihoods, marine ecosystems, and our collective future." Mamdoo said: "For years, Standard Bank has not only ignored the legitimate concerns of communities but has met peaceful protest with arrogance and repression. Instead of engaging in good faith, Standard Bank has chosen to brutalise activists, dismiss civil society, and double down on investments that endanger millions of lives across Africa." StopEACOP said Standard Bank has by virtue of financing the Mozambique LNG Project, Coral FLNG (Floating LNG) Facility and East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) contributed to the destruction of communities across Africa, the carbon emissions driving climate collapse, the violence, human rights abuses, and ecological destruction that accompany these so-called 'developments. Under pressure from protestors, Total Energies committed to providing a written response to the memorandum within 14 days. Similarly, a Standard Bank representative promised a written response to the demands within 14 days, despite one protestor angrily demanding an immediate answer. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
Environmental activists protest against Standard Bank and Total Energies over fossil fuel financing
Stop East African Crude Oil Pipeline and other organizations protest outside Total Energies offices in Rosebank during the week of action (18 - 24 August) Image: Supplied: Zaki Mamdoo/ StopEACOP A coalition of activist groups, Stop East African Crude Oil Pipeline (StopEACOP) embarked on a protest in Johannesburg with the intention of voicing their frustrations against Standard Bank and Total Energies for their alleged exploitative and non-environmentally friendly activities in Africa. According to StopEACOP, Standard Bank has positioned itself as a chief accomplice to Total Energies' wreckage across the African continent and is bankrolling the exploitation, destruction and harm imposed onto so many communities. In a memorandum on Tuesday, the coalition said to Total Energies: "We, organisations, communities and ordinary people from across South Africa and the African continent, are united in our unequivocal condemnation of Total Energies and its destructive fossil fuel operations. "As communities and activists demonstrate, come together and speak out through this week of action (18-24 August 2025), we send a clear and urgent message that Total must back off." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Zaki Mamdoo, a coordinator of the StopEACOP outlined that the demonstration, part of a continentwide Week of Action (August 18-24), calls on the bank to sever ties with the oil giant over alleged plundering and ecological destruction across Africa. Expressing contentment and hope to succeed, the coalition said: "We welcome the decision of the Western Cape High Court setting aside the exploration right granted to Total Energies and its partners to pursue offshore oil and gas drilling along South Africa's southwest coast. The court found that the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) and Total Energies failed to adequately consult affected communities and ignored the serious environmental and climate risks posed by the project. This judgment is a victory for coastal communities, small-scale fishers, and environmental defenders who have long resisted the imposition of destructive projects that threaten their livelihoods, marine ecosystems, and our collective future." Activists protest against Total Energies and Standard Bank Image: Supplied: Zaki Mamdoo
The Citizen
a day ago
- Business
- The Citizen
StopEACOP Campaign wants Total Energies out of Africa
StopEACOP Campaign not only wants Total Energies out of South Africa, but wants it to pay for the damages and harm it has caused. Speaking in Rosebank on August 19 was StopEACOP Campaign coordinator, Zaki Mamdoo, who said the protest aimed to elevate the voices of communities across the continent and that the lived realities of communities who grappled with displacement due to Total Energies. Read more: Watch: Protest action in Melrose Arch 'The demonstrations are part of the 'kick Total Energies out of Africa campaign' due to legitimate concerns and extreme frustration over the devastation and hyper-exploitation, and the distraction caused by Total in its various extractive fossil fuel ventures on the continent. This includes the East African pipeline, which is a major 1443km pipeline stretching from the Great Lakes of Uganda to Tanzania.' Mamdoo added that to make way for the pipeline, more than 100 000 people have been displaced and pushed off their land. In a public statement released by a climate change NGO, the Green Connection, on August 13, it explained that the Western Cape High Court halted Total Energies' drilling project. 'In a major victory for small-scale fishers and coastal communities, the Western Cape High Court has overturned the government's approval of Total Energies' Block 5/6/7 offshore drilling plans. The court ruled that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) was deeply flawed, failing to address key risks, legal requirements, and public participation,' said the statement. Total Energies acknowledged the Western Cape High Court's halting of its project. 'Total Energies E&P South Africa acknowledges the decision of the High Court of South Africa to set aside the Environmental Authorisation granted in April 2023 for further exploration in offshore Block 5/6/7 and to remit the matter to the decision-maker for reconsideration following requested additions. Although the company announced its exit from this block in July 2024, it remained fully committed to respecting the judicial process to its term and to engaging continuously with all its stakeholders. ' Total Energies added that from the outset of the exploration project, the Block 5/6/7 joint venture complied with all required local regulations, in particular environmental and social. Total Energies E&P South Africa, along with its joint venture partners, is in the process of legally assessing the judgment in more detail and deciding on the course of action. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
