The controversy over fossil fuel extraction continues to linger just weeks after the conclusion of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. There is a spiraling of protests due to its severe environmental impacts globally.
It started in Baku when over 6000 climate activists staged demonstrations claiming it was a bad idea for oil nations and companies to continue drilling for the vital mineral.
During the Baku conference, Uganda was blamed for implementing two oil projects namely Telenga and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) projects.
The projects have come under constant and bitter criticism by environmental activists, civil society organisations, and human rights defenders.
The protesters ranted about how Uganda joined other global oil apologists and frustrated the climate change campaigns.
Telenga project includes putting in place facilities to support the production of petroleum from six (6) oilfields located in Buliisa and Nwoya districts.
It is implemented by TotalEnergies, in partnership with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC).
The 1,443km EACOP, also known as the Uganda-Tanzania pipeline project, will transport oil produced from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields in Hoima district to the Chongoleani Peninsula near Tanga Port in Tanzania with 80% of the pipeline in Tanzania. The oil will then be sold onwards to world markets.
EACOP is implemented under the partnership of TotalEnergies as a primary shareholder, CNOOC, UNOC, and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) representing Tanzania’s government interests in the project.
According to the United Nations, human activities like the burning of fossil fuels like oil and gas have been the main drivers of climate change globally.
However, Uganda portrays the two major oil projects as too essential to the country’s economic development.
Initially, the activists petitioned the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) headed by Ali Mohamed demanding an ambitious climate finance package for vulnerable communities and an end to fossil projects.
In addition, the petition, presented by Greenpeace Africa, a global environmental movement, further urged for increased investments in renewable energy solutions and the establishment of more concrete ways that hold polluters accountable for climate damages.
According to Murtala Touray, the Program Director at Greenpeace Africa, the demands in the petition represented the voices of Africans who are suffering from the devastating impacts of climate change.
Touray further urged fossil fuel companies to pay their fair share for the damage they’ve caused to the communities and environment, especially in developing countries like Uganda.
Fred Njehu, Pan-African Political Strategist for Greenpeace Africa, argued that Africa’s future must be renewable, not fossil-fuel dependent.
He added that this was the best way to champion real sustainable solutions that would protect communities and ecosystems.
Powershift
“The failure of climate finance does not necessarily mean that East Africa and African countries should open up our oil rigs and start exploring for gas. Currently, all the 33 gas plants across Africa are all export-orientated. This means we’re not necessarily tapping into the promise of fossil fuels,” said Dean Bhekumuzi Bhebhe, the Campaign Lead at Power Shift Africa, a Pan-African climate think tank, and a co-facilitator of Don’t Gas Africa.
Bhebhe further argued that the narrative around Africa achieving development through a fossil fuel legacy is null and void.
“But what Africa can do now is the creation of a transformative green industrialisation framework that will help Africa leverage its transition minerals,” he said.
According to Bhebhe, Africa has got all the chromium, manganese, copper, and iron to leverage the right financing that the continent needs for the transition to renewable energy, a people-centered, and socially governed energy system that will meet Africa’s current energy crisis.
Regarding EACOP, he stated that claims of significant benefits for East Africans are misleading, given the existing provisions.
The export-oriented market model and economic framework of the project do not provide a clear pathway for Uganda, Tanzania, or Africa as a whole to secure substantial revenue.
Uganda Replies
According to President Yoweri Museveni, Uganda’s Oil Exploration Plan will be implemented according to schedule and he remains committed and set on witnessing Uganda’s oil exploration project and development plan concluded as stipulated.
Museveni further maintained that petroleum products for the domestic and EAC markets
Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, the Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), said that oil and gas exploration and production will contribute towards sustainable environment management.
According to Akankwasah, the government has agreed that all the oil revenues should go into powering a faster energy transition for Uganda.
Uganda is funding projects like Kiira Motors under the e-mobility program intending to reduce emissions from vehicles and has solar-powered electric buses in addition to electric motorcycles, and electric boats being used on Lake Victoria to lessen the environmental impact of fishing boats and to help fishermen cut costs.
“So the idea is that we get to sell our oil and gas products, generate money, help the economy to transition into cleaner energies,” he stated.
“Yes. Uganda contributes 0.01%. So even with all oil and gas production in Uganda, we shall not reach 1% of the world. I am telling you not even 0.5%,” he argued.
While the environmental activists and developed countries are talking of energy transition, Uganda maintains that transition does not mean to stop oil extraction now and miracles happen. “Transition means you plan to scale down,” Akankwasah argued.
During COP29, the Uganda delegation led by Sam Mangusho Cheptoris, the Minister of Water and Environment, argued that wealthy nations which are responsible for over 90% of the global emissions, should take the lead in reducing their emissions.
According to the delegation’s argument for just energy transition, Uganda has barely contributed to the emission problem adding that even if Uganda doesn’t exploit its oil and gas reserves in the next 20 years, still people will be using vehicles powered by fossil fuels.
“Yes, we are transitioning into e-mobility, but this is not going to be a one-day thing. All Ugandans are not going to have electric vehicles tomorrow. They will still be driving fossil fuel vehicles,” Akankwasah argued.
While the environment activists and global north predict that fossil fuel projects may become stranded assets, Akankwasah dismissed the notion arguing that oil projects can not simply come to a halt since all major oil-producing countries globally are still extracting oil at a large scale.
The debate simply centers on whether to scale down on oil production while transitioning to cleaner energy to achieve the 2050 target.
“So the question is, should Uganda keep its under the ground and then import oil and gas products up to 2050?” he boldly questioned the logic of such an approach.
Akankwasah argued that Uganda’s oil resources could be key players in the transition period since they generate revenue to expedite the country’s transition to clean energy.
He further warned that without these oil funds, poverty could worsen and cause more environmental harm.
“In this case, people will continue cutting trees for firewood. Currently, our biomass makes up 80% of the country’s energy use. So it would be best if you had the energy to shift people’s mindset from relying on biomass. The main problem is not oil and gas. Not at all,” he stated.
Uganda’s UN Ecosystems Restoration Representative
“Largely all key discussions and protests surround phasing out of fossil fuels but as a country, we do believe in the phasing down the fossil fuel which can be applicable,” said Dr. Jibril Ssemakula Owomugisha, Dr. Jibril Semakura Owomugisha, the Uganda’s Representative to United Nations Decade on Ecosystems Restoration.
According to Owomugisha, all recent COP presidencies such as COP27 (Egypt), COP28 (Dubai), and COP29 (Azerbaijan), are high producers of oil and their economies have grown tremendously.
“We have our stand when we talk about the fossil fuel use. Our stand remains on phasing down fossil fuel use, but not phasing out fossil fuel use. Why? That Uganda is a country, we have just explored our oil,” he said.
He further noted that Uganda has to utilise the EACOP opportunity to empower its economy.
“Look at 90% of Azerbaijan (current COP29 presidency), their economy depends on oil production therefore as a country, we have to exploit this resource to our advantage along with environment protection,” he said.
“How are we doing this? We have structures, we have strategies for minimising the expected impacts and negative impacts of this ECOP project. Similarly, we have structures, strategies, and decarbonisation pathways,” he stated.
This story was produced as part of the 2024 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organised by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.
