TILENGA PROJECT: TotalEnergies EP Uganda Launches Tilenga Biodiversity Protection and Conservation Program

Kampala: TotalEnergies EP Uganda has launched the Tilenga Biodiversity Program, an initiative aimed at protecting and conserving biodiversity in and around the Tilenga project area.

According to officials from TotalEnergies EP Uganda, the Biodiversity Action Plan is hinged on four key pillars including ; Reducing human pressures and strengthening the ecological resilience of the Murchison Falls protected area through enhanced park protection and community based management such as supporting alternative livelihoods and Implementing conservation and restoration measures for forests and their connectivity targeting protection of 10,000 hectares of natural forest threatened with deforestation and restoration of 1,000 hectares of tropical forest.

Other pillars are; Protecting and maintaining the connectivity of habitats in the savannah and in the proximity of the Bugungu Natural Reserve by addressing threats within and around the Reserve and developing schemes to support diversification of livelihoods and reduce dependency on Bugungu Natural Reserve while the fourth is to Work with the host community to manage and restore wetlands along the southern bank of Lake Albert through community-based management initiatives.

Speaking during the launch, Philippe Groueix , the General Manager TotalEnergies EP Uganda said they are mindful of the sensitive context within which we are undertaking their activities.

‘’We have thus made a commitment to ensure that we implement action plans designed to produce net positive impact on biodiversity. The biodiversity program will ensure a sustainable approach in working with community towards protecting and conserving the ecologically rich area in and around the Murchison Falls Conservation Area”, he said.

This approach involves the implementation of conservation and community awareness initiatives, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to achieve biodiversity gains above baseline conditions. The program has been developed in close collaboration with Government agencies and reviewed by international experts.

“We thank all our partners on this program, it is through these joint collaborations and consultations that we have been able to develop a robust plan to ensure that oil development activities are undertaken and can co-exist harmoniously with the environment and biodiversity. Our overall mission is to leave the environment in better condition than if the project had not taken place.” Mr. Groueix added.

The launch was attended by: Mr Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of water & Environment; Dr Joseph Kobusheshe, Director Health Safety and Environment, Petroleum Authority of Uganda; Mr Simon Nampindo, Country Director Wildlife Conservation Society; Dr Barirega Akankwasah, Executive Director NEMA; Mr Richard Kapere, Manager Planning,Uganda Wildlife Authority and Mr Douglas Lukwago, Business Development Manager, National Forestry Authority.

Other Environment and Biodiversity Conservation initiatives by TotalEnergies EP Uganda include among others; The biodiversity program complements already existing efforts by the company to minimize as much as possible the potential impacts of the project on Environment.

In accordance with the Avoid – Reduce – Compensate principles that underpin its Biodiversity policy, TotalEnergies has decided to reduce the Tilenga project’s footprint in the in Murchison Falls National Park.

The project’s temporary and permanent installations, including well sites, will take up less than 0.05% of the park’s land area. The number of sites to drill the 140 wells has been limited to 10. These 10 sites have been designed to be as compact as possible, with a minimized visual impact.

TotalEnergies EP Uganda also recently embarked on community-based forest conservation and restoration initiatives such as “Grow A Tree Everywhere” (GATE) which is aimed at growing 100,000 trees in the Tilenga project areas of Nwoya and Buliisa districts.

“We aim to not only implement but demonstrate the achievement of Net Positive Gain on the Tilenga project. We will therefore monitor progress alongside that of the project itself in line with International Finance Corporation (IFC) standards, international and national legislation’’, noted Groueix, General Manager TotalEnergies EP Uganda.

TotalEnergies has been present in Uganda since 1955 through its marketing operations and has more 200 stations countrywide.

TotalEnergies EP Uganda is an upstream affiliate which is leading the development activities towards production in the Tilenga project area – Licence Area 1 (LA-1) and Contract Area 2 North (CA-2N) within the Albertine Region

TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, cleaner, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.