After a February fast-track attempt failed, five activist groups sued French oil firm TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) in a Paris civil court for its Uganda and Tanzania projects on Tuesday.
The French and Ugandan organizations, led by Friends of the Earth France, accuse the energy corporation of failing to protect people and the environment from its Tilenga oil production and $3.5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
Their complaint uses a 2017 French “duty of vigilance” statute mandating large corporations to identify hazards in their global operations and supply networks and outline prevention efforts.
“TotalEnergies considers that its vigilance plan is implemented effectively and has ensured that its subsidiaries in Uganda and Tanzania have applied the appropriate action plans so as to respect the rights of local communities and biodiversity,” the business said in an email.
“We anticipate a courtroom merits debate.”
EACOP will transport up to 246,000 barrels of crude daily from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to Tanzania’s Tanga port by 2025. The business owns 62% of the pipeline.
The first suit failed to stop the projects under a special fast-track process because the judge found TotalEnergies’ vigilance plan legal.
However, only a careful inquiry in a standard-speed trial could determine whether the company’s activities on the ground met its duty to prevent specific harm.
This latest lawsuit seeks compensation for project construction-related injuries.
Allegations include late payment for pipeline land and house flooding during oil processing facility development.
