A group of Ugandan farmers on Tuesday filed a case in the UK High Court against the developer of a $5 billion oil pipeline in East Africa, seeking to stop the nearly completed project on environmental grounds.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which will transport crude from Uganda’s Albertine Graben to Tanzania’s Tanga port, is nearly completed, after years of delays and controversies surrounding the project.
The development of EACOP is being led by French supermajor TotalEnergies.
However, EACOP has drawn environmental scrutiny for years for its potential impact on ecosystems and communities along the route.
Supporters argue that the project could be transformative for East Africa, creating jobs, boosting infrastructure investment, and strengthening regional energy security.
Opponents, including the Ugandan farmers who filed the lawsuit against the UK-registered EACOP Ltd, contend that the pipeline, the oil production, and the route would harm water resources in the area, as well as wildlife and biodiversity.
