Uganda’s Oil is destined to boost plastics production as Kenya fights off US plastics trade deal.

Uganda’s Oil is destined to boost plastics production as Kenya fights off US plastics trade deal.

This morning the President of Uganda signed off the HGA (Host government agreement) for the East African Crude oil pipeline (EACOP) project between the government and Total. This is a big step towards tapping into proven 6.5 billion barrels. Uganda discovered oil in 2006, but started pumping in 2018 after being delayed by negotiations on building a refinery. The president who is seeking another term made in clear that this is “his” oil and now believes oil can spark off the transformation he has promised Ugandans for now 35 years plus. He has also assured Ugandans that the government has gone through all items keenly.

Total's E&P Uganda managing director Pierre Jessua called this a milestone which will pave way to the final investment decision in the coming months and this process will be done with the government of Tanzania.

This meeting has come after the president in his 14th Covid19 lockdown speech promised plastics manufactures that they will be able to access PVC content and other petrol chemicals made of Uganda’s oil. He said that this move will boost local production of plastics and help to reduce the plastics import burden. This also comes at a time when Kenya is also fighting off a US led illicit trade deal which will see Kenya providing an entry point to flood the rest of Africa with plastics. Now France’s Total wants to lay ground for such negotiations. 

Today's meeting at State House Entebbe. Photo via president's Twitter account.

Why production of more plastics is bad news for us all?

Uganda has been among countries that are not sufficiently resilient to withstand ecological threats. We’re facing the highest number of threats including water and food shortages and a greater exposure to extreme climate events. These include frequent occurrence of droughts floods, land slides, failing crops and increasing temperatures that are unfavorable to the agriculture sector, the backbone of the economy.

Production of plastics will only make these situations worse, our climate will breakdown more as emissions from the sector increase. The oil pipeline in question is to be constructed at the cost of our nature’s gifts that will have to be cleared to pave way. Oil companies work together with plastics companies as their biggest customers. Today multinationals Coca-Cola, Unilever, BP and PepsiCo account for nearly a fifth of climate changing emissions.

This same move by big oil and plastics companies also exposes a double standard by rich nations when it comes us poor countries. We’re now suffering from problems we don’t cause yet now we’re pushed to accept terms that are not favorable. 60% of waste packaging from big brands dumped and burned in developing countries causing serious climate effect, it’s clear that none of these companies has committed to back track on its behavior. 

Big brands like Shell and Total have failed to account for their environmental impact. Coca-Cola, Unilever, PepsiCo, Mukwano, Bidco and many others have failed to achieve their promise of a waste free world and now are heading fast to catalysing the climate crisis. 

In this case we need a regional effort focused on renegotiating oil contracts, strengthening regulations and laws to avoid being undermined by large corporations from rich nations. 

Africa will not be a hub production and will not offer ground for dumping plastic waste.

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