TotalEnergies’ controversial East African oil project is already wreaking havoc on Uganda’s largest national parks, according to a leading conservationist group. The French energy giant, along with Chinese partner CNOOC, is pushing forward with the Tilenga drilling project in Uganda and a 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to the Tanzanian coast.

The $10-billion project, which involves over 400 oil wells in Murchison Falls Nature Park, a significant biodiversity reserve, has faced strong opposition from environmentalists and rights activists.

Despite these concerns, TotalEnergies maintains it is a responsible operator, addressing social and environmental issues transparently. However, the Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) reports significant biodiversity loss, with drilling vibrations already displacing elephants from the park.

Conservationist Speaks Out

“It has been devastating,” said AFIEGO conservationist Diana Nabiruma in a recent interview, highlighting the severe impact on wildlife and the fragile ecosystem just a year after drilling began, with production set to start next year.

AFIEGO’s report, based on satellite images and interviews, documents that drilling vibrations are pushing elephants into nearby communities, leading to destroyed croplands and fatal human-wildlife encounters. At least five people have been killed since last year.

Legal and Human Rights Concerns

AFIEGO, a 2022 recipient of the Swedish Right Livelihood Award, is among the organizations and individuals suing TotalEnergies in Paris for reparations over alleged rights abuses. Nabiruma emphasized that over 120,000 people have been displaced by the project, many unable to replace their land.

TotalEnergies disputes these figures, insisting that the project doesn’t involve moving hundreds of thousands of people and that those affected will be compensated or rehoused in better conditions. The company also claims to be monitoring the environmental impact closely, denying significant changes in elephant movement patterns.

Environmental Degradation and Poaching Risks

The AFIEGO report also highlights that lights from the drilling rig are affecting nocturnal wildlife, such as leopards and lions. Increased motorized traffic and new roads are exposing wildlife to higher risks of poaching and accidents.

TotalEnergies argues that the project aims to provide a net gain for biodiversity and local communities, promising economic opportunities. However, Nabiruma strongly disagrees, urging France and others to withdraw support and stop the project to prevent further indebting the Ugandan population and causing irreversible environmental damage.

Call for Renewable Energy Investment

Campaign groups suggest TotalEnergies is struggling to secure the remaining financing needed to complete the project. Nabiruma advocates for investment in renewable energy, particularly solar power, to replace the harmful oil project.

“It’s not enough to only stop funding bad projects. Funding must flow to the good projects,” she said, stressing the potential for sustainable energy solutions in Uganda.