The Africa Institute for Energy Governance and Inclusive Development International published in June 2022 a report titled "Assessment of East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and Associated Facilities' Compliance with Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards."
The Tilenga and Kingfisher oil fields are located onshore on the eastern perimeter of the Lake Albert basin, which lies on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most of the oil lifted from these fields would be transported via the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) for export through Tanzania's port of Tanga. A French-led consortium, TotalEnergies, operates the Tilenga oil field while the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) operates the Kingfisher field. TotalEnergies owns 62 percent of EACOP and CNOOC owns 8 percent. The Ugandan and Tanzanian national oil companies own the remaining 30 percent.
The report concludes that the EACOP project and its associated oil fields fail to comply with the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards in a variety of ways. These include major shortcomings in the project's consultation processes, impact assessments and risk management plans, severe and unmitigated risks associated with the improper handling of hazardous waste and oil spills contaminating critical water supplies, the continuing threats and unlawful retaliation against human rights defenders, environmentalists and community leaders that express concern with or disapproval of the project. The report argues the projects will also result in extensive and irreversible damage within Murchison Falls National Park and numerous other protected areas.
