KASANA — Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has on Wednesday, October 23 conducted an environmental and social assessment to address the ahead of the construction of the crude oil pipeline.
This assessment followed a request by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to have a public hearing at Kasana Church of Uganda grounds, Kitenga sub county in Mubende District.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline will cover 1,443km with 296km in Uganda occupying 10 districts and 1,147km in Tanzania covering 8 regions and 25 districts.
Mr. Francis Kibuka, Mubende District Chairperson calling the pipeline a total disaster said that his people are worried over likely negative impacts of the pipeline to the environment in the area.
On his part, Mr. Ernest Rubondo, the
Executive Director, PAU noted that the petroleum authority went on the ground and chose the best route.
“The company tested the ground to see if it has the capacity to host the infrastructure and now, we are taking the environmental and social assessment,” he said.
NEMA’s Tom Okurut assured the public that NEMA will minimise the impact of the East African Crude Oil Project on the environment.
“When our government decided to get oil and gas, it means that this has disturbance on the environment so what our work is, is to minimise the impact.”
Addressing the environmental issues, NEMA has promised to minimize the impact by collecting the waste and taking it to waste treatment camps.
