Former Benin Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou has been enlisted by France’s TotalEnergies TOTF.PA to scrutinize land acquisitions in Uganda and Tanzania, linked to the Tilenga oil and East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) ventures.
This move comes amid legal action against TotalEnergies by activist groups, spearheaded by Friends of the Earth France, who accuse the company of neglecting the welfare of local communities and the environment. TotalEnergies denies these claims.
The company announced that Zinsou will assess the land procurement procedures, consultation terms, compensation and resettlement of affected individuals, and mechanisms for addressing grievances as the land acquisition phase nears completion.
Zinsou’s consultancy will also evaluate efforts made by TotalEnergies EP Uganda and EACOP to enhance the living conditions of those impacted. A comprehensive report is expected by April 2024.
TotalEnergies clarified that the Tilenga and EACOP initiatives encompass a land acquisition program spanning 6,400 hectares (15,815 acres) on behalf of the Ugandan and Tanzanian governments.
This program involves 19,140 households and communities utilizing or owning land, with 775 primary residences slated for relocation.
The company stated that as of now, 98% of the affected households have signed compensation agreements, 97% have received compensation, and 98% of households designated for relocation have settled into their new homes.
However, NGO Human Rights Watch criticized the EACOP pipeline’s land acquisition process, asserting that it has been detrimental to the affected populace. HRW representative Myrto Tilianaki highlighted that many families have lost crucial land that sustained their livelihoods and provided for their children’s education, receiving inadequate compensation from TotalEnergies. Furthermore, Tilianaki mentioned instances where Ugandan activists raising concerns have faced arrests, threats, and harassment.
The Tilenga project, primarily managed by TotalEnergies (56.67% stake, operator), alongside CNOOC (28.33%) and UNOC (15%), aims to transport Ugandan oil to Tanzania’s Tanga port through EACOP. EACOP’s stakeholders include TotalEnergies (62%), UNOC (15%), TPDC (15%), and CNOOC (8%).
Zinsou, who served as Benin’s prime minister from 2015 to 2016, heads the consulting firm SouthBridge, which has a history of collaboration with TotalEnergies.