Uganda's oil production sharing agreements point towards a resource extraction programme designed for company profit, not country development, writes Taimour Lay

The Katine project is providing a compelling case study in the complexity of sustainable development. Genuine progress - when possible within the constraints of a liberal capitalist model - comes from solutions that are local, evidence-based and democratically accountable. There are few quick fixes and no magic wands.

But the exploration and imminent production of oil in western Uganda is being seen as just that - an easy answer to complex problems. Both government and the oil companies involved have been busy painting a roseate picture of bumper revenues and a country transformed. Forget the intricacies of agricultural reform, social ownership and political liberalisation; Uganda, we are told, will be turned into a middle- income country by $2bn a year in hard cash.

Press Release - 11th December, 2009, KlimaForum09

The planet is experiencing a severe ecological crisis and communities living in harmony with and caring for nature are being pressured to unbearable extremes. The atmosphere is being polluted, rivers damaged, forests destroyed, and so is the livelihood of communities in the South, health of individuals, communities and nature.

It is clear that the greatest efforts against climate crisis are those made in different models other than the polluting model that has driven the world into the present crisis. These efforts are being made within communities, organizations and amongst groups of women and men around the world who are committed to life and nature. This knowledge and these efforts, locally, regionally or globally, gain more importance when they are collectively articulated.
 

A unique court case, brought by four Nigerian victims from Goi-Ogoni, Rivers State, Ikot Ada Udo, Akwa Ibom State and Oruma, Rivers State of Shell oil leaks, in conjunction with Milieudefensie [Friends of the Earth Netherlands], begins on Thursday in the court at The Hague. This is the first time in history that a Dutch company has been brought to trial before a Dutch court for damages occurring abroad.

The Nigerian farmers and fishers, who lost their livelihoods after oil from leaking Shell pipelines streamed over their fields and fishing ponds, are claiming compensation from the Dutch multinational. They also want Shell to clean up the oil which remains in the ground, so that they can fish and farm once again.
 

The four victims of the leaks are from three Nigerian villages. They have subpoenaed both Shell’s subsidiary in Nigeria and the Dutch Headquarters. They allege that as the result of Shell's negligence, agricultural lands have been devastated, drinking water polluted, fish ponds made unusable and the environment and health of local people harmed.
 

Press Release - 9th November, 2009

Plans by oil company Eni to develop tar sands and oil palm in the Congo Basin risk irreversible damage to biodiversity, local communities and our climate, and break the company’s own guidelines, according to Congolese human rights organisations and their international partners. In a report published today, Energy Futures? Eni’s Investments in tar sands and palm oil in the Congo Basin, the groups argue that given their potential for local harm and their huge carbon footprint, such investments should be considered too high risk for Eni or any other energy company.

This is the first tar sands exploration in Africa, while the palm oil project for food and agro-fuels would be one of the largest on the continent. Eni’s deal was signed in 2008 with the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), an oil-rich but poor state with minimal transparency and respect for human rights. Forests cover two thirds of Congo and are essential for the livelihoods of local people, as well as a vital carbon sink. Congo’s Government wants to lead on stewarding the global resource of the Basin, but its record on forest law enforcement and environmental protection is weak.

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Kampala — OIL tests by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have shown unacceptable levels of heavy metals in the waste water and mud cuttings left behind by the oil companies in the process of their exploration activities.

The cuttings are pieces of rock that come out of the Earth's crust during drilling. They are thrown in open waste pits which get filled with water when it rains.

The cuttings also contain a mixture of chemicals that are used to cool the temperature of the drilling head. The heavy metals found during the soil tests, carried out at the end of July, were lead, zinc, chromium, cadmium, manganese, cooper, nickel, iron, manganese, phosphates, nitrogen, chloride and sulphates.

Fire has been raging at the Ojumole Oil Field, Ojumole town, Ugbo Kingdom in Ilaje local government area, Ondo State, Nigeria.

The fire is said to have started on Saturday, 3rd October, 2009, following an "explosion" and is very close to Bowoto Community. The cause is yet to be ascertained. Community folk are being displaced in panic. More details to be published as facts emerge.

Emergency help is needed.

NCOM Press statement
We members of the National Coalition on Mining (NCOM) from Chirano, Obuasi, Kenyasi, New Abirim, Bibiani, New Atuabo near Tarkwa, Prestea, Mpatuom, and Accra attending its normal rotation meeting held August 13th, 2009 at Accra, Ghana wish to unequivocally condemn AngloGold-Ashanti (AGA) for allegedly burying alive 40 small-scale miners (galamseyers) at Blackis Pit near Obuasi, Tom Collins one of the abandon pits

On Tuesday August 11th, 2009, we learnt with shock and deep regret that the security personnel of AngloGold-Ashanti allegedly decided to burry alive 40 small-scale miners at one of the company’s abandoned pits at Tom Collins also known as (Blacks Pit) near Obuasi the Municipal capital in Ashanti Region of Ghana. We view the action of AngloGold-Ashanti as barbaric, high-handedness, torture and attempted murder of citizens.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AFTER THE OILWATCH AFRICA GENERAL ASSEMBLY HELD BETWEEN THE 11-14TH OF AUGUST 2009 AT MIKLIN HOTEL, ACCRA, GHANA

1.0 Preamble
Civil society groups, community based campaigners, academics, lawyers, the media and individuals from various communities in Africa converged in Accra Ghana, under the auspices of Oilwatch Africa to discuss emerging environmental concerns in Africa such as climate change, the impact of the global economic crisis on the environment and livelihoods and the suppression of dissent and militarization of resource rich communities in Africa. The theme of the meeting was popularizing the of concept of “Keep the Oil in the Soil”

13 August 2009 - The second day, the Assembly gathered with much energy and enthusiasm to further discuss and debate. Dr. Iyayi opened the proceedings of Day Two of the Oilwatch General Assembly in Accra, Ghana. He addressed a very topical issue of the global economic crisis and its impact on the African environment.
In his presentation, Dr Iyayi observed that the environmental problems in Africa are not only increasing and multifaceted but are likely to become worse in the light of the current global crisis of capitalism.
He elaborated that the economic crisis has increased poverty for millions of people in Africa, and contributed to a myriad of ills such as deforestation through the felling of trees for fuel, increased exploitation of forests and marine resources, the importation and use of second hand goods from the North, and the inability of communities to resist further environmental abuse by global companies. All these and other associated problems are expected to increase as a result of the global financial crisis, reinforcing a vicious cycle where increased poverty causes greater pressure to be put on the environment, which in turn increases the vulnerability of poor peoples to environmental change.
In addition, the global economic crisis of capitalism has led to reduced revenues which in turn have implications for more extensive and intensive exploitation of natural and mineral resources by African states.

Today, the Oilwatch Africa General Assembly opened in Accra, Ghana. Representing communities from Africa who are resisting the destructive activities of oil companies, were 25 activists, academics, attorneys and community based campaigners from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Chad, Mali and Congo Brazzaville.
Having the Oiwatch meeting take place in Ghana is very timely as oil discovery is the rage. All over – be it in governance or in civil society and community discourse, our Ghanaian colleagues tell us, the issue of oil is a hot one. US President Obama made his first trip to Africa since being elected president of the United States. Many contend that his visit is linked to the new oil finds in the area.
The theme of this particular assembly is “Keep the oil in the Soil”. This is in line with Oilwatch’s aim to stop the expansion of socially destructive and environmentally damaging oil activity in the tropics and other parts of the global South.