cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/54832873
The $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which will transport crude from Uganda's Albertine Graben to Tanzania's Tanga port, is nearly completed, after years of delays and controversies surrounding the project. The development of EACOP is being led by French supermajor TotalEnergies along with the Chinese state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).
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Ugandan farmers ... filed the lawsuit against the UK-registered EACOP Ltd, contend that the pipeline, the oil production, and the route would harm water resources in the area, as well as wildlife and biodiversity.
The 1,443-kilometer pipeline ... is expected to peak at around 200,000 barrels per day.
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The plaintiffs hope a successful lawsuit could stop the pipeline from becoming operational.
"The case seeks remedies that could go to the heart of the project's commercial viability, including an injunction to stop oil being transported through the pipeline, as well as compensation and other legal relief under Ugandan law," the Ugandan farmers said
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Former reports warned that
EACOP Project cuts through 44 protected areas and 7 Key Biodiversity Areas, threatening critical habitats, endangered species, and ecosystem services that support local communities ...
Displacement caused by large-scale infrastructure projects like EACOP is not just a question of compensation, it fundamentally reshapes the lives, livelihoods, and social fabric of affected communities. A 2023 study by the Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) found that 41% of displaced households received low-productivity replacement land, and only 3% rated their new land as highly productive. Crop yields have declined, with 77% of households harvesting over 51 kg per season after displacement, compared to 92% before ...
Human Rights Watch reports that many displaced individuals received compensation insufficient to purchase replacement land, and delays in payments have caused further hardship. Poverty in many regions along the pipeline corridor leaves communities particularly vulnerable to coercion or inadequate compensation, forcing them to accept agreements that may not reflect their long-term well-being ...