Shell is seeking government permission authorities for drilling project off the western shores of South Africa, according to Reuters.

The company’s proposal, as shown in a draft scoping report from environmental consultancy SLR on Tuesday, involves the drilling of up to five wells in the region.

Operator Shell wants to drill exploration and appraisal wells as oil companies shift their focus south of Namibia, where a string of discoveries in its prolific Orange Basin holds the potential of more finds.

The Orange Basin extends southwards into South Africa waters and has also attracted the interest of rival TotalEnergies.

Notably, Shell Offshore Upstream South Africa B.V. and its joint venture partners need environmental authorization from the government before they can operate in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep Block (NCUD) in the Orange Basin, in which water depths range between 2,500-3,200 meters.

Shell has faced challenges against its plan to conduct seismic testing for oil and gas along South Africa’s Wild Coast from environmental and human rights organizations.

Meanwhile, on June 3 South African appeals court suspended a previous ruling that halted Shell’s offshore exploration on the Wild Coast, giving oil companies another opportunity for public consultation.

While the court dismissed the appeal, it recognized the exploration right and ordered a further public participation process to address the concerns of environmental groups and coastal communities who argue that the seismic surveys are harmful to marine life.