TotalEnergies is set to go before the EU Parliament to address the development of its East Africa crude oil pipeline.
The controversial pipeline expected to run from Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.
Environmental groups have argued that the project will have devastating impacts on wildlife as well as critical water resources including the Lake Victoria Basin, foreignbrief.com reported.
In September, the European Parliament passed a resolution criticising the project, angering Uganda’s government as well as the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) - a key stakeholder.
The project has seen resistance from activists, who are concerned that 40 million people in East Africa will lose access to water for drinking and farming. Protesters in Uganda were arrested after demonstrating against the pipeline.
Uganda’s government, and the CNOOC have announced that the project will go as planned.
Uganda has stated that if Total Energies backs out following today’s session with the EU, they will seek out other partners.
The EU will likely recommend an alternate route that avoids Lake Albert in the hopes of reducing environmental and human damages incurred by the pipeline.
TotalEnergies to be quizzed over controversial oil pipeline
