French energy company TotalEnergies has announced an increase in its stake in oil assets in Namibia, acquiring an additional stake in Impact Oil and Gas offshore blocks 29138 and 2912. This move further consolidates TotalEnergies’ presence in Namibia’s oil and gas market, especially following its recent significant discoveries in partnership with Shell.
The French company is also involved in projects in the Great Lakes region, specifically in Uganda and Tanzania. However, these projects have faced criticism due to possible environmental and social impacts. In response to these concerns, TotalEnergies hired Lionel Zinsou, founder and director of SouthBridge, an economic development consultancy, to carry out an assessment of the Tilenga and EACOP projects.
The Tilenga and EACOP projects aim to exploit oil resources in Lake Albert in Uganda and build a 1445-kilometer pipeline to the port of Tanga in Tanzania, respectively. The company is facing opposition from several international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including lawsuits, with some accusations related to environmental impacts.
TotalEnergies clarified that the acquisition of land for these projects will affect a large number of owners and users, with the company seeking to mitigate these impacts through compensation and resettlement agreements. The company is committed to sharing the conclusions of Zinsou’s assessment with the partners involved in the Tilenga and EACOP projects, seeking to improve their practices and minimize negative impacts.
We will closely follow the developments of these projects and how TotalEnergies will deal with the challenges presented by the international community and environmental organizations.
