Regional Court Dismisses Petition Against $4bn East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline

The East African Court of Justice has dismissed a petition aiming to halt the construction of the controversial $4 billion (£3.1 billion) East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The 1,443km (896-mile) pipeline, connecting Uganda to Tanzania, is a joint endeavor involving the governments of both nations, TotalEnergies, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

The court ruled on Wednesday, deeming the case as filed too late and asserting that it falls beyond its jurisdiction due to the time-barred nature. This decision is expected to have far-reaching implications, considering the persistent opposition the project has faced from local communities, as well as environmental and rights groups.

Critics argue that the EACOP project has led to the displacement of communities from their land, desecration of graves along the pipeline route, and environmental degradation.

In response to the court’s decision, civil society group Natural Justice released a statement, stating, “This judgement marks a continuation of how the global north and various government institutions in Africa are blind to the destruction of the environment and the impact oil and gas has on the climate.”

Despite the setback, the four civil society organizations, including Natural Justice, which initially filed the case in 2020, have expressed their intent to appeal against the court’s ruling.