In a move aimed at ensuring transparency and socio-economic responsibility, Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, has appointed Lionel Zinsou, a distinguished expert in African economic development, to evaluate the land acquisition program associated with the Tilenga and East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) projects in Uganda and Tanzania.
The comprehensive 1443 km-long EACOP project, designed to provide heat and real-time satellite surveillance for leak prevention, is a joint effort by TotalEnergies, CNOOC, UNOC, and TPDC.
Zinsou’s mission, set to conclude in April 2024, will assess various aspects of the land acquisition process, including procedures, consultation conditions, compensation and relocation strategies for affected populations, and the effectiveness of grievance handling mechanisms. The focus is also on TotalEnergies EP Uganda and EACOP’s contributions to improving living conditions for those impacted by land acquisitions. Additionally, the expert will propose further measures if deemed necessary.
The Tilenga and EACOP projects encompass a land acquisition initiative covering 6,400 hectares, executed on behalf of the Ugandan and Tanzanian governments. This involves 19,140 households and communities, including the relocation of 775 primary residences. Notably, 98% of the households have signed compensation agreements, 97% have received their compensation, and 98% of households slated for relocation have occupied their new homes.
The Tilenga upstream development project, led by TotalEnergies (56.67% operator), CNOOC (28.33%), and UNOC (15%), transports oil from Ugandan fields to the Tanzanian port of Tanga through the cross-border EACOP pipeline. EACOP Company’s shareholders include TotalEnergies (62%), UNOC (15%), TPDC (15%), and CNOOC (8%).
Lionel Zinsou, a former student of the Ecole Normale Supérieure and the London School of Economics, brings a wealth of experience to the mission. Serving as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Benin in 2015-2016, Zinsou is widely recognized for his expertise and commitment to Africa’s economic development. As the founder and Managing Partner of SouthBridge, a consulting company dedicated to the African continent, Zinsou has previously collaborated with TotalEnergies on economic development issues.
