TotalEnergies to Re-Examine Land Acquisitions for Disputed Projects in Africa
French energy giant TotalEnergies announced on Thursday that it has initiated a review of its land acquisition practices for the contentious $10-billion projects in Uganda and Tanzania. The projects include the Tilenga drilling project in Uganda and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), stretching 1,443 kilometers to transport oil to the Tanzanian coast. The
TotalEnergies to Re-Examine Land Acquisitions for Disputed Projects in Africa
French energy giant TotalEnergies announced on Thursday that it has initiated a review of its land acquisition practices for the contentious $10-billion projects in Uganda and Tanzania. The projects include the Tilenga drilling project in Uganda and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), stretching 1,443 kilometers to transport oil to the Tanzanian coast. The projects have faced opposition from environmentalists and activists.
The review will assess land acquisition procedures, consultation conditions, compensation and relocation processes for affected populations, and the grievance handling mechanism. The company plans to submit the report by April. The Tilenga project targets oil under the Murchison Falls nature reserve in western Uganda, raising concerns about the fragile ecosystem. Despite opposition, drilling began in mid-2023, and production is scheduled for 2025.
TotalEnergies, collaborating with Chinese oil company CNOOC, stated that its acquisition plan affects 19,140 households and communities, involving the relocation of 775 primary residences. The company claimed that 98% of the households have signed compensation agreements, 97% have received compensation, and 98% of households to be relocated have occupied their new homes.
Opponents, including environmentalists, conservationists, and those concerned about the impact on local populations, have resisted the project. In July, Human Rights Watch called for a halt to the plans, stating that it had already “devastated thousands of people’s livelihoods in Uganda.” The oilfield is expected to displace over 100,000 people.
In September, four environmental groups filed a criminal complaint in France accusing TotalEnergies of “ecocide.” The company had named Benin’s former Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou to lead the land acquisition assessment. Zinsou, recognized as an expert in African economic development, has worked with TotalEnergies in the past through his consulting company.
