Civil society wants govt to address oil environmental report

 

 

ActionAid Uganda acting Communication Officer Flavia Nalubega said the government should critically evaluate views of the hosting community before production of the oils and gas starts.

 

"I would like to thank the government for organising public hearings for the host communities and coming up with ESIA report. My humble appeal is for the government to put into consideration the local views and their opinions in order to enrich the review process of the report and elevate their standard of living," said Nalubega.

 

Nalubega further highlighted that the report does not provide for any remedial measures in the event of delayed compensation which has been a common practice.

 

She stressed that the government should institute measures to mitigate potential delays in compensation.

 

Nalubega was addressing a public hearing on the EIA report on the proposed projects. The function was held on Friday at Kabaale Public primary school, Buseruka County, Hoima district.  

 

 The residents of Buseruka County, Hoima district attending a public hearing at Kabaale Public Primary School

The coordinator Civil Society Coalition on Oil James Muhindo, remarked that there is need to address the fisheries management plans for Lake Albert in order to establish effective livelihoods strategies and adopt proper measures to ensure cross-boundary co-operation.

 

"The Natural Resource Management aspects are closely linked with socio-economic impacts in terms of livelihoods, food and nutrition security and project innervations will tend to compound this problem for the community. There are no adequate provisions and management plans to address the long term effects in the community," Muhindo said

 

The field officer Kitara Development Initiative (KITADI) Cathy Tuhaise, said the developer should explore the effects of noise and propose viable mitigation measures for possible dangers of noise and fauna since it was not captured in the report.

 

"The noise and vibration impact assessment is restricted to the communities, and does not assess potential effects on the fauna associated with the area and the effects of vibration on the escarpment," Tuhaise noted

 

Gloria Sebikari, the Manager Corporate Affairs Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) observed that after documentation of all the concerns by the hosting communities, the report will be submitted to the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).

 

"So far, two public hearings have been conducted,  the presiding officers will then submit the concerns to NEMA for a review and this will determine whether  the developer (CNOOC) will be issued with an Environment and Impact Assessment Certificate of not," she explained

 

Sebikari further stated after the EIA certificate has been issued to the developer, to guide the entire project throughout its life cycle of 25 years.

 

"It is important to know that the certificate will not be a one-time thing. It will go through a life cycle of the project and will cater for issues raised like noise, air quality, restoration of vegetation because areas are going to be cleared to pave way for the construction when the project starts," said Sebikari.

She urged locals and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to acquire training in oil-related courses and prepare themselves for the production of the oil.

 

 The residents of Buseruka County, Hoima district registering upon arrival at Kabaale Public primary school ahead of the public hearing

 

The Vice President Cnooc Uganda Limited Cui Yujun said: "there is a lot of expectations for the public when it comes to employment opportunities, unfortunately, we can only employ 2000 out of 5000 people."

 

 

The Government and Oil companies held two public hearings about the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report for the proposed oil development project.

 

The public hearings took place at Rwemisanga Primary School in Kyangwali Sub Country in Kikuube district on Wednesday and at Kabaale Primary School in Buseruka Sub County in Hoima district on Friday respectively.

 

The ESIA report was aimed at establishing the potential and negative social and environmental impacts of the proposed projects.

 

Cnooc Uganda is the lead operator of the Kingfisher oil field. Total E&P and Tullow Uganda and Cnooc Uganda are joint venture partners in Uganda's oil and gas sector.