The High Court has dismissed with costs a recent application that sought to stop Reconnaissance Energy Africa from continuing with its oil and gas exploration activity in the Kavango basin.
Special interest groups recently challenged amendments to the company’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), which had been approved by the Environmental Commissioner and had enabled the company to proceed with its exploration activity.
Among other things, the applicants sought an order for an interim interdict restraining the company from putting into effect the decision of the Environmental Commissioner’s ECC Amendments or continuing any oil and gas exploration activities which have been authorised by the ECC Amendments.
Judge Thomas Masuku, in his judgement delivered on Friday, dismissed the organisations’ urgent application and the applicants were ordered to pay ReconAfrica’s legal costs.
“The preliminary procedural points raised by the respondents–including ReconNamibia, the seventh respondent –have been upheld by the Court, meaning ReconNamibia and the other respondents have successfully defended the application for an interdict. The Court has ordered that the matter is dismissed and removed from the court roll and that applicants pay the cost of all respondents including ReconNamibia. We continue to apply business best practices in all parts of our project,” ReconAfrica’s Director Communication and Stakeholder Relations, Mwanyengwa Ndapewoshali Shapwanale told The Brief.
The Canada-based company is working to explore oil and gas potential in the Kavango Basin, covering portions of north east Namibia and north west Botswana.
The court had initially deferred judgement until 3 August.
