35 fuel stations have reportedly cut their ties with Shell in a stand against the Wild Coast blasting as Express Petroleum dumps their relationship with the fuel giant.
Express Petroleum, an Eastern Cape-based fuel company recently announced that their petrol stations had made the decision to debrand from Shell, largely because of Shell’s ‘internal silence’ over the intention to carry out seismic blasting on the Wild Coast, CEO Russell Wells expressed as per Dispatch Live.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Express Petroleum says it is “extremely passionate about South Africa and care deeply for the future sustainability for our pristine coastlines”.
Express Petroleum noted that it is not a part of the seismic blasting and does not support it according to the post.
Express Petroleum has 35 petrol stations that had ties to Shell existing as one of ten branded distributors.
South Africans from all over the country have rallied together in protest against Shell and CGG’s Seismic Surveys, which are set to begin in December.
The Wild Coast blasting will for five months, drag up to 48 air guns methodically through 6 011km² of the ocean surface, firing extremely loud shock wave emissions that penetrate through 3km of water and 40km into the Earth’s crust below the seabed to collect ‘seismic data’ for Shell.
Also Read:WATCH: Video of protests against Shell blasting the Wild Coast raises hairs
Environmental activism group @oceansnotoil has been a huge force in raising awareness about the Seismic Surveys, and the petition it started has garnered over 300 000 signatures.
For Shells part, the ‘survey’, AKA Shell’s title of the blasting still has the green light. Spokesperson Pam Ntaka said that the company has a “deep desire” to protect marine life and other wildlife.
Ntaka further commented that “if this survey was not safe, Shell would not proceed with it based on our deep commitment to safety and the environment,” as News24 reports.