World · Africa · 2 hrs ago
Climate activists protest African Energy Week in Cape Town
Climate activists protested outside an energy conference in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Greenpeace Africa and Extinction Rebellion campaigners called for an end to new oil and gas exploration across Africa.
South Africa is seeking to expand oil and gas development to attract investment and strengthen energy security, while its government says natural gas can back up wind and solar power.
Shell plans to drill up to five deepwater wells off South Africa’s west coast, but the project’s environmental approval faces appeals.
The campaigners say new fossil fuel projects could worsen climate change and prolong dependence on oil and gas.
Police removed the protesters, and the conference was continuing.
Climate activists protested outside the African Energy Week conference in Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday.
Greenpeace Africa and Extinction Rebellion campaigners called for an end to new oil and gas exploration across Africa.
They argued that more fossil fuel investment would worsen climate change and threaten communities.
Police removed the protesters, who wore T-shirts saying “Make polluters pay.”
South Africa’s government says natural gas can complement renewable energy and provide electricity when wind and solar output drops.
- Who
- Greenpeace Africa and Extinction Rebellion campaigners, including Siya Myeza and Judy Scott-Goldman.
- What
- They protested against new oil and gas exploration in Africa.
- When
- Tuesday. The article was published on 2026-10-13.
- Where
- Outside the African Energy Week conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Why
- They said further fossil fuel investment would worsen climate change and threaten communities.
Climate activists
South Africa’s government
New oil and gas exploration
Climate activists
Activists called for an end to new oil and gas exploration across the continent.
South Africa’s government
The government is seeking to expand oil and gas development to attract investment and bolster energy security.
Role of natural gas
Climate activists
Activists said expanding fossil fuel use would conflict with climate commitments to reduce emissions.
South Africa’s government
The government presents natural gas as a complement to renewable energy, saying gas-fired plants could provide electricity when wind and solar output drops.
Climate activists picketed outside the African Energy Week conference in Cape Town.
Police removed the protesters.
- Protest location
- Outside African Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa
- Campaigning groups
- Greenpeace Africa and Extinction Rebellion
- Protest slogan
- Make polluters pay
- Planned exploration
- Shell plans to drill up to five deepwater wells in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep block
- Conference date
- Tuesday, 2026-10-13
What people are saying
Oil companies from overseas have made billions in profits this year alone at the expense of people’s lives, at the expense of ecosystems, at the expense of African lives
We’re here to say we don’t want to see any exploration of oil and gas on this continent
Sources
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