Has Uganda done enough to prevent pollution of Lake Albert by oil drilling? (commentary) – Mongabay

Report on Oil Development Impacts on Lake Albert and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Lake Albert’s Socio-Ecological Importance and SDG Context

Lake Albert is a critical natural resource for thousands of households in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), providing essential water and fisheries. This directly supports the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): The lake is the primary source of daily water for local populations.
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 1 (No Poverty): Fisheries provide food security and livelihoods for over 20,000 people in the DRC alone.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land): The lake and its surrounding ecosystem, including Murchison Falls National Park, provide key habitats for unique wildlife such as shoebills, Goliath herons, and Rothschild giraffes.

Analysis of Oil Development Projects and Associated SDG Risks

Two active oilfield development projects, Kingfisher (operated by CNOOC Uganda) and Tilenga (operated by Total E&P Uganda), pose significant threats to the region’s environmental integrity and the progress toward multiple SDGs. A report by the organization Environmental Defenders highlights that the installation of oil facilities on the shores of Lake Albert without adequate investment in mitigation measures presents major risks to the environment and public health, creating a direct conflict with internationally agreed-upon development goals.

Key Findings and Environmental Concerns in Relation to SDGs

Concerns raised by environmental monitoring groups indicate that current practices may undermine several SDGs. The primary issues identified are:

1. Inadequate Waste and Water Management: A lack of commitment to sound disposal systems for water, sewage, and drilling cuttings directly threatens SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The use of chemical-based drilling mud and the potential for hydrocarbon-contaminated drainage to enter local river systems further compromises water quality and jeopardizes SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
2. Threats to Biodiversity and Ecosystems: The placement of extensive infrastructure, including 10 well pads and 181 kilometers of pipeline, within Murchison Falls National Park is in direct opposition to the objectives of SDG 15 (Life on Land). The operations threaten rare and diverse flora and fauna that are incompatible with oil development.
3. Profit-Maximizing Technology over Environmental Protection: A report by E-Tech International suggests that the technology employed is focused on maximizing profit rather than ensuring environmental protection. This approach contradicts the principles of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), which calls for sustainable and resilient infrastructure. The recommendation to reduce the number of oil wells from ten to two represents a best-practice approach to minimize environmental impact.
4. Risk to Community Livelihoods: A major oil spill would have catastrophic consequences for the approximately 100,000 households in the DRC that rely on the lake. Such an event would severely impact food security and economic stability, causing a significant setback for SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

Stakeholder Perspectives and Counterarguments

While environmental organizations express grave concerns, project supporters, including government bodies such as the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), maintain that adequate mitigation measures are in place. They assert that the exploration and production stages have proceeded without challenges and that expert teams are on-site to monitor the situation. However, the lack of transparent commitments regarding waste disposal systems continues to fuel skepticism among environmental advocates.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • The article extensively discusses the threat to the water quality of Lake Albert, which serves as a primary water source for “thousands of households in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” Concerns include “pollution of underground waters,” the “lack of commitment to a system of sound disposal of water, sewage and drilling cuttings,” and the risk of “hydrocarbon-contaminated drainage escaping into the Kamansinig River and the surrounding wetlands.”

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • The article highlights the danger posed to terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity. It states that oil development threatens a “key habitat for unique wildlife like shoebills and Goliath herons.” The nearby Murchison Falls National Park, home to “increasingly rare wildlife” such as Rothschild giraffes and African bush elephants, is directly impacted by infrastructure like well pads and pipelines. The report cited warns of the “destruction of biodiversity” in the Albertine region.

3. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • The article connects the health of Lake Albert’s aquatic ecosystem to local livelihoods, noting that “more than 20,000 people take fish from the lake.” The threat of a “major oil spill” and pollution from “chemical-based drilling mud” directly endangers the fish stocks and the aquatic environment they depend on, thus aligning with the goal of protecting life below water.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • This goal is addressed through the critique of the oil production methods. The article mentions that the technology used is “aimed at maximizing profit and not protecting the environment.” It also points to poor waste management practices, such as the challenge of managing “large volumes of effluent and solid waste” and the lack of a “sound disposal” system, which are central to the principles of responsible production.

5. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article implies a connection to public health by stating that the oil facilities “pose major threats to the… health of communities around the lake.” Pollution of the primary water source and potential contamination of fish stocks would directly impact human health, linking the environmental issues to well-being.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Targets for SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution. This target is directly relevant as the article focuses on the threat of pollution from oil spills, “chemical-based drilling mud,” and the improper disposal of “sewage, and drilling debris,” which would degrade the water quality of Lake Albert and surrounding rivers.
   • Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems. The article’s central theme is the need to protect the Lake Albert ecosystem and “the surrounding wetlands” from the adverse effects of petroleum exploration, which aligns perfectly with this target.

2. Targets for SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. The article discusses the need to protect Murchison Falls National Park and the habitat around Lake Albert, which are inland freshwater ecosystems threatened by the oil infrastructure.
   • Target 15.5: Halt the loss of biodiversity and protect threatened species. This is addressed by the concern for “unique wildlife like shoebills and Goliath herons” and other rare species in the national park whose habitats are being degraded by oil development operations.

3. Targets for SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds from land-based activities. Although Lake Albert is a freshwater body, the principle of this target applies directly. The article warns against pollution from land-based oil drilling activities, which would harm the lake’s aquatic life.

4. Targets for SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.4: Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes. The article explicitly raises concerns about the “lack of commitment to a system of sound disposal of water, sewerage, and drilling debris” and the use of “chemical-based drilling mud,” which are central to this target.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Indicators for Water Quality (SDG 6)

   • The article implies that water quality can be measured by monitoring for “hydrocarbon-contaminated drainage” and pollutants from “chemical-based drilling mud” in Lake Albert and the Kamansinig River. The presence or absence of a “sound disposal of water, sewage and drilling cuttings” serves as an indicator of progress in waste management infrastructure.

2. Indicators for Biodiversity and Habitat Loss (SDG 15)

   • Progress can be measured by tracking the “destruction of biodiversity.” Specific indicators implied are the area of land occupied by oil infrastructure (“10 well pads, 181 kilometers of pipeline, and road infrastructure”) within Murchison Falls National Park and the population health of key species mentioned, such as shoebills, giraffes, and elephants.

3. Indicators for Production Practices (SDG 12)

   • The article suggests indicators related to the technology used in oil extraction. A key measure would be whether companies employ “the best available technology” for environmental protection, as recommended in the E-Tech report, versus “cheap technology” aimed at maximizing profit. The number of oil wells could also be an indicator, as the report suggests reducing them “from 10 to two well-placed ones” as a best practice.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.mongabay.com