TotalEnergies, along with partners CNOOC and UNOC, is advancing the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil development projects in the Lake Albert region of Uganda. These projects, representing a significant investment in Uganda’s energy sector, will tap into substantial oil and gas resources estimated at over one billion barrels. The produced oil will be transported to the Tanzanian port of Tanga via the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a cross-border pipeline project.
The Tilenga project, operated by TotalEnergies (56.6%), involves developing six oil fields and drilling approximately 400 wells. Production will be processed at a treatment plant in Kasenyi, with water reinjected and gas used for energy generation. Surplus electricity will be supplied to the pipeline and the Ugandan grid. One of the fields is located within Murchison Falls Park, while others are situated outside the park in sparsely populated agricultural areas.
The EACOP project consists of a 1,443 km buried pipeline connecting Kabaale, Uganda, to Tanga, Tanzania, along with a storage terminal and loading jetty. The pipeline will include pumping stations and a heat tracing system to maintain the oil’s temperature at 50°C. The pipeline route has been carefully selected to minimize environmental impact, primarily traversing farming areas.
TotalEnergies emphasizes its commitment to a balanced multi-energy transition strategy, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. The Tilenga and EACOP projects, with scope 1 and 2 emissions of 13 kg CO2e/boe, are among the company’s lower-emission oil projects. They are expected to generate 0.8 million tons of CO2 annually at peak production, or approximately 13.5 million tons over their 20-year lifespan.
The projects require the acquisition of approximately 6,400 hectares of land, impacting 19,262 stakeholders, including 775 primary residences requiring relocation. TotalEnergies is committed to a land acquisition program compliant with IFC performance standards, including comprehensive land surveys, fair compensation (monetary or in-kind), and a transparent grievance mechanism.
TotalEnergies has prioritized stakeholder engagement from the project’s inception, conducting extensive consultations and meetings with local communities and civil society organizations. The company also collaborates with NGOs to leverage their expertise and drive continuous improvement. TotalEnergies emphasizes its commitment to respecting human rights throughout the project’s implementation.
Recognizing the sensitive environmental context, particularly the biodiversity of the Lake Albert region, TotalEnergies has implemented strict measures to avoid, mitigate, and offset potential environmental impacts. In Murchison Falls Park, the Tilenga facilities will cover less than 0.03% of the park’s surface area during operation, demonstrating the company’s commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint. Detailed information on human rights and social impact management can be found in the Tilenga Human Rights Report 2023 and the TotalEnergies in Uganda Social Report 2024.
