NEW GUIDELINES FOR TILENGA OIL PROJECT IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK.
Murchison falls National Park is the largest park at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley in northwest Uganda. The park covers 3840sqkm harboring wildlife and birds. While in Murchison falls National Park tough guidelines were put by UWA for Tilenga Oil Project (Wellpad5) construction. Despite the fact that the Tilenga Oil project is located in Murchison falls national park, UWA has strictly put the procedures to follow, the park is reserved and protected due to wildlife and birds which attract many tourists to Uganda.
However, the Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority Barirega Akankwasah said that the Tilenga Bio-diversity protection and conservation program would leave the Murchison Falls National Park in a better state.
“The end purpose is to leave Murchison Falls National Park, and its surrounding landscape, in better ecological condition than if the Project had not taken place.” He said after calling it ‘a pilot on biodiversity offset’ on Uganda’s gas and oil development process thus the Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report was approved by NEMA on 15th April 2019 of the Tilenga Oil project and issued the certificate of the approval
What are the guidelines put by UWA for Tilenga Oil Project?
- Contractors of Tilenga Oil project should not pick any fauna and flora in Murchison falls national park.
- During the construction period, there shall be no hooting in the park.
- UWA has instructed constructors to seek approval for construction storage facilities.
- Constructors are requested to use camouflage on yellow, red and white vehicles.
- One kilometer at a time, floor line digging is restricted in the park by Uganda Wildlife Authority.
What are the measures used to maintain the guidelines that were put by UWA for Tilenga Oil Project?
French oil giant Total has unveiled plans to minimize environmental damage in Murchison falls national park which finalizes crude oil production and export infrastructure in Uganda’s oldest conservancy and top tourist destination.
“It aims to limit its Tilenga project’s footprint within Murchison Falls Park in line with the “Avoid – Reduce – Compensate” principles that underpin its Biodiversity Policy published in 2020.” Total the French Oil giant said
To implement action plans designed to produce a net positive impact on biodiversity in the development of these projects. Total plans will be defined in close cooperation with the authorities and stakeholders in charge of nature conservation in Uganda and Tanzania.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Total Patrick Pouyanné said that they acknowledge that Tilenga and EACOP projects represent significant social and environmental stakes, which we are taking into consideration responsibly.
He continuously said they are mobilizing substantial resources to ensure that these projects are carried out in an exemplary manner and create value for the people in both countries.
To ensure complete transparency on the studies conducted by Total and independent third parties and the actions taken as a result, the commitment of Total is to answer all the questions asked by the stakeholders.
The EACOP pipeline route has been designed to minimize its environmental impact. Careful attention was paid to watercourses, and horizontal drilling will be used for the most sensitive case.
About UWA
Uganda Wildlife Authority is a government agency that is responsible for protecting and managing wildlife in and out of protected areas. The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities is an agency supervising Uganda Wildlife Authority. UWA protects 10 national parks, 5 community Wildlife management areas, 12 wildlife reserves, and 13 wildlife sanctuaries.
Some of these national parks include kibale national park, Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, mgahinga national park, Semuliki national park, kidepo valley national park, Mt Rwenzori national park and mt Elgon national park.
About Tilenga Project.
The project is operated by Total E&P Uganda (TEPU) covering three (03) Production Licenses (PLs) from Contract Area (CA) -1 partnering with CNOOC and UNOC.Tilenga project is located in Buliisa and Nwoya district in Lake Albert which plans to develop nine fields like Gunya, Kasamene, Wahrindi, Kigogole, Nsoga, Ngege, Ngara, obi-Rii and Ngiri. PAU monitors the activities that were implemented by the license for the Tilenga project and these are contracting of Wells and Drilling Related Services, Technical Surveys, the Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study, Technical Surveys, Sub-Surface Studies and Land Acquisition, the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) study.
