Uganda says its oil dream is alive despite intensified criticism from several groups, which this week lodged a complaint in the US against insurer Marsh that is brokering underwriting services for the $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop).
On February 7, at least 10 human rights and environmental groups in Uganda and Tanzania accused Marsh of violating guidelines for responsible business conduct for the company’s role in Eacop. The complaint was lodged with the US National Contact Point at the Department of State.
Last year, financial services provider Britam Uganda dropped out of the insurance consortium for Eacop after a complaint was filed at the World Bank office, alleging the insurer breached International Finance Corporation performance standards.
The complaint against Marsh came barely a week after Eacop completed acquisition of 47.22 acres of land in Kakumiro District for the main camp and pipe yard site.
In the meantime, construction of the coating plant is also ongoing at Nzenga, Tanzania, officials said.
Eacop managing director Martin Tiffen signalled readiness by the project’s sponsors to conclude land acquisition processes by mid-2023 to pave way for construction of the 1,443km pipeline that starts from Hoima in western Uganda to Tanzania’s Indian ocean Tanga Port.
