Key facts
- Ugandan farmers filed a lawsuit in the UK High Court against EACOP Ltd.
- The lawsuit seeks to block the $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline on environmental grounds.
- The pipeline is nearly completed and is designed to transport crude oil from Uganda to Tanzania.
- Opponents cite potential harm to water resources, wildlife, and biodiversity.
- The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to stop oil transport and compensation.
A group of Ugandan farmers has initiated legal action in the UK High Court, filing a case against EACOP Ltd, the developer of the $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline. The lawsuit aims to halt the nearly completed project, citing environmental concerns including potential harm to water resources, wildlife, and biodiversity.
The 1,443-kilometer pipeline is designed to transport crude oil from Uganda's Albertine Graben to Tanzania's Tanga port, enabling Uganda to export oil for the first time. Production from the Tilenga and Kingfisher oilfields, developed by TotalEnergies and China's CNOOC, is expected to reach approximately 200,000 barrels per day. The pipeline itself is designed to transport 216,000 barrels of crude oil daily, with a potential ramp-up to 246,000 bpd.
Despite facing years of delays and controversies, the pipeline's construction is nearing completion, with potential first shipments by late this year or early 2027. Supporters of the project highlight its potential to create jobs, boost infrastructure investment, and enhance regional energy security. However, opponents, including the suing farmers, argue that the pipeline and associated oil production activities pose significant environmental risks.
The plaintiffs, represented by law firm Leigh Day, are seeking remedies that could impact the project's commercial viability, including an injunction to stop oil transportation and claims for compensation under Ugandan law.