Report says TotalEnergies Uganda project threatens national park

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00:00Well, NGOs say that French energy giant Total Energies' controversial East African oil

00:05project in northern Uganda is already having devastating effects on biodiversity.

00:11Conservationists say that drilling near the Murchison Falls Nature Park, the largest of

00:16its kind in the country, is upending the fragile ecosystem.

00:20Shama Di Roma brings us more.

00:29Elephants, antelopes and other animals in Murchison Falls National Park are already

00:34feeling the impact of the initial oil drilling, according to a study conducted by Ugandan

00:39NGO. A year ago, Total Energy and a Chinese company

00:42launched the first drills in northern Uganda as part of a major oil extraction project

00:47led by local authorities. However, this new report, based on several

00:51months of research, indicates that these drills are already affecting the wildlife.

00:56Elephants, particularly sensitive to vibrations, are increasingly leaving the park, leading

01:01to conflicts with surrounding communities, resulting in the destruction of crops and

01:05the death of several people following elephant encounters, according to the report.

01:10The lighting from the installations is also criticised as NGOs fear it will disrupt lions

01:16and leopards, which can only hunt in complete darkness.

01:20The construction of several roads through the park also worries environmental activists.

01:25Total Energy responded by clarifying that it is not responsible for these roads.

01:29The company also disputes the claims about elephant movements, stating that it closely

01:34monitors them with its partners and that the lighting has been adjusted to minimise disruptions,

01:40amongst other measures.

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