TotalEnergies has announced that Lionel Zinsou, former Prime Minister of Benin, will carry out an “assessment mission” on the land aspects of its oil megaprojects in Uganda and Tanzania, EACOP and Tilenga. The aim of this mission is to assess the procedures for land acquisition, consultation, compensation and relocation of the populations concerned. It comes as the land acquisition process, involving some 6,400 hectares and 19,140 households, draws to a close.
The EACOP and Tilenga projects, involving the drilling of 419 wells in the Murchison Falls natural park and the construction of a 1,443-kilometer heated pipeline, have aroused strong opposition. These projects, involving a ten-billion-dollar investment agreement with Uganda, Tanzania and the Chinese company CNOOC, are criticized for their potential impact on the ecosystem and local populations.
Legal controversies and reactions
The projects have triggered legal action, notably by the French associations Amis de la Terre and Survie, as well as Ugandan NGOs, denouncing human rights violations and environmental risks. Although some appeals have been ruled inadmissible, the legal battle continues in France and abroad, reflecting the tensions between energy development and environmental protection.
Response from TotalEnergies and Perspectives d’Avenir
In the face of criticism, TotalEnergies launched this assessment mission, a move seen as an attempt to address environmental and social concerns. The outcome of this assessment could influence the future of oil megaprojects and the perception of the energy industry as a whole.
TotalEnergies’ assessment initiative on its projects in Uganda and Tanzania marks a decisive moment, illustrating the complexity of environmental and social issues in the energy sector. The conclusions of this assessment could set an important precedent for the future of large-scale energy projects.
