Four non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have asked the East African Court of Justice to stop the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) by Uganda and Tanzania.

The NGOs are Centre for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CFALR), the Africa Institute for Energy Governance, Natural Justice-Kenya, and the Centre for Strategic Litigation.

The NGOs argue that an environmental and social impact assessment as required by the EAC treaty has not been conducted.

The applicants, in the case filed on 06 November, are seeking a permanent injunction against Uganda, Tanzania and the EAC.

‘As a requirement by national as well as the EAC law, the project developer for the EACOP project in Uganda must be issued with a certificate of approval of environment and social impact assessment approved by the government of Uganda’s National Environmental Management Authority but the same was not issued prior to the signing of the agreements by both Uganda and Tanzania’, read the suit.

It is understood that the pipeline, according to the design of the project, will transport crude oil from Hoima district in Uganda to Chongoleani in Tanga, Tanzania.

Source: The East African

Photo source: AFP