Fears of underinvestment in mitigation against oil spills, poor waste disposal and water overuse remain a major concern for environmentalists, even as Uganda insists adequate measures are in place to protect Lake Albert and the surrounding ecosystem from the adverse effects of petroleum exploration and development. A report commissioned by my organization, Environmental Defenders — a conservation and human rights organization dedicated to protecting biodiversity and Indigenous communities’ rights — finds that destruction of biodiversity, spills and pollution of underground waters are phenomena increasingly present in the Albertine region. The report particularly decries the installation of oil facilities on the shores of Lake Albert without adequate investment in mitigation measures for the Tilenga and Kingfisher areas. According to the report, they pose major threats to the environment, water and health of communities around the lake. Drilling rig at the Kingfisher project. Image courtesy of Mathieu Ajar. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), about 100,000 households rely on Lake Albert to meet their water needs, and more than 20,000 people take fish from the lake. Consequently, there are fears that a major oil spill would threaten the very existence of these communities, yet mitigation against such an occurrence has not been adequate. E-Tech International has previously established that the technology being used in the Albertine region is aimed at maximizing profit and not protecting the environment. The focus on using cheap technology to maximize profits is, according to the report, a danger, given that 10 well pads, 181 kilometers (112…This article was originally published on Mongabay
Has Uganda done enough to prevent pollution of Lake Albert by oil drilling? (commentary)
