By KT Reporter
Oil and gas joint venture partners in Uganda have been urged to fully implement and comply with their Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) to ensure the sustainable extraction of the country’s petroleum resources.
Magara Nicholas, an Assistant Commissioner at the Ministry of Water and Environment, emphasized that the environmental and social impact assessments approved by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) are not mere formalities—they must be strictly adhered to.
“What I want to encourage you to do is comply with the conditions, because some of these ESIAs have become a little bit political—just done for the sake of passing, yet the companies do not comply with the law… Yes, you can proceed… comply with all the conditions.”
Uganda’s oil and gas operations have both positive and negative potential impacts on the economy, people, and environment. These impacts were examined in the EIAs prepared for projects under TotalEnergies, CNOOC, and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), assessing key social and environmental aspects such as community livelihoods.
Magara, formerly the Regional Wetlands Coordinator leading efforts against wetland encroachment in central Uganda, noted that oil and gas developments must avoid harming the environment and the country’s biodiversity.
He expressed concern that companies such as TotalEnergies EP Uganda (TEPU), China National Offshore Oil Company Uganda, and EACOP may not be fully complying with ESIA conditions approved by NEMA under the 1998 Impact Assessment Regulations.
“I have heard about some flash floods, some ball pits, but when you look at the reports, my friend, they are glittering,” he remarked.
He added that although policies and guidelines exist to safeguard the environment from the risks of petroleum development, gaps in compliance persist.
Magara revealed that some operators have failed to involve the Ministry and district authorities, despite their mandated role in monitoring adherence to environmental requirements.
“Some companies here know themselves. Those who involve us know themselves; those who don’t also know themselves. We must work as a team so that we have sustainable development of the resources,” he urged.
Onesmus Mugyenyi, Deputy Executive Director at ACODE and leader of the Environment and Natural Resource Governance Programme, also stressed the need for coordination among government agencies to ensure compliance with EIAs and related regulations.
The Role and Importance of ESIAs
Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) are essential tools for promoting sustainable natural resource management. They assess the potential environmental and social impacts of a project and outline mitigation measures where necessary.
Magara said all oil-related infrastructure and developments are required to develop Environmental Impact Assessments.
“They have done so—we have reviewed and approved many. But I have had some issues,” he said.
He spoke during an online dialogue organized by the Civil Society Coalition on Oil and Gas (CISCO), ACODE, and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), under the theme “Sustainable Development of the Oil and Gas Sector and Leveraging the Resource to Support Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy and Energy Transition.”
A 2018 review by CISCO and ACODE of ESIA reports submitted to NEMA found that at least one project lacked adequate project-specific details, sufficient analysis of anticipated impacts, and comprehensive mitigation plans.
Paul Twebaze, a Natural Resource Management Scientist with the Civil Society Coalition on Oil and Gas (CSCO), noted that although some deficiencies reported during past field visits persist, there has been noticeable improvement.
Dr. Joshua Sserufusa Zake Kangaawo, a Natural Resource and Environmental Management consultant, highlighted the value of ESIAs:“They stipulate environmental and social management plans, and they come with strategies and actions to mitigate negative impacts while enhancing positive ones.”
He added that the EACOP project has recently developed its ESIA, which includes a 40-million-tree campaign as a mitigation measure for carbon emissions. He noted that this campaign was launched even before the ESIA process was completed.
Some project-affected persons have reported severe flooding in areas where Tilenga project developments are underway. Dr. Zake cautioned against drawing premature conclusions: “It is too early to attribute those effects entirely to those developments. It could be climate change due to increased rainfall, or it could be related to ongoing activities in the landscape. It is better to have a study to understand what is happening.
International Concerns and Uganda’s Response
Concerns about EIA and ESIA quality—and whether companies are complying—have previously surfaced, including efforts to halt the EACOP project.
In 2022, the European Parliament passed a resolution citing social and environmental risks associated with the Lake Albert development projects in Uganda and Tanzania.
In response, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda stated that the ESIAs for the Kingfisher, Tilenga, and EACOP projects were conducted in accordance with Ugandan law and international commitments such as, UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Climate Agreement.
The Authority emphasized that the assessments followed established principles of the environmental and social impact mitigation hierarchy, including: Avoidance of sensitive ecosystems, mitigation of manageable impacts, Environmental restoration, and offsetting residual impacts.
It said the ESIA processes also involved consultations with lead agencies and stakeholders, including public hearings and participation in the development of resettlement action plans.
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