CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADERS VISIT TOTALENERGIES’ TILENGA PROJECT
Leaders from the Catholic Church and Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in East Africa (AMACEA) Secretariat in Kenya led by Fr. Dr. Aliba Kiiza (Catholic Secretariat, Kampala), accompanied by Fr. Andrew Kaufa and Fr.Paul Igweta have undertaken a familiarization visit to TotalEnergies’ Tilenga Project in Buliisa on June 17th 2022.
The aim of the visit to the Oil and Gas Operation Areas in the Abertine Graben was to acquaint themselves with the ongoing oil production works at the Tilenga Project following a consultative meeting with a Team from Hoima Catholic Diocese at Miika Hotel.
The delegation was received by a TotalEnergies EP Uganda team led by the Construction Manager Mazen Abi Azar, the Officer Responsible for Safety and Environment on Site (RSES) flanked by the Surface Works Manager, Jean Christophe OUDIN; Public Relations Coordinator, Aliker David Martin; Social Affairs Coordinator, Moses Ogamdogwa; Land Acquisition Coordinator, Cornelius Ojok; and Abraham Ochola, the Environment and Biodiversity Field Supervisor.
TOUR OF THE TILENGA PROJECT INDUSTRIAL AREA
The TotalEnergies EP Uganda team briefed the church leaders on the progress of the Tilenga Project works in Buliisa ahead of the visit to different project sites. The church leaders then undertook a tour of the Industrial Area (IA) that will host the Central Processing Facility (CPF) to witness on going project activities. In addition to the IA, the clergy also visited TotalEnergies EP Uganda’s Resettlement Action Plan 1 (RAP1) Housing Project area for Project Affected Persons (PAPs) who have already been successfully relocated.
NAIROBI TEAM’S REMARKS ON THE TILENGA PROJECT
Fr. Andrew Kaufa in his remarks said, “On behalf of the team from Nairobi, I know that when we finally meet with other Bishops for the 20th assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in East Africa in Dar-es-salaam in July, we shall share the rich experience we have witnessed.”
“As a church, our interest is to see that development does not endanger the future sustainability of the environment.” He added
TOTALENERGIES’ ENVIRONMENT COMMITMENT RE-ECHOED
While addressing the visiting delegation, Mazen reiterated TotalEnergies EP Uganda’s commitment to Environment protection. “We are committed to conserving the environment in accordance with the recommendation of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). The ESIA Report for the Tilenga Project was prepared in accordance with the National Environment Act Cap 153, and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (EIA), 1998.”