TotalEnergies again in court for its oil projects in Uganda and Tanzania

TotalEnergies is accused by several French and Ugandan NGOs of non-compliance with the duty of vigilance.

© CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

The French firm TotalEnergies was before the French courts this Wednesday, December 7 following a legal action launched in 2019 by a group of six French and Ugandan NGOs against the oil project of Total in Uganda and Tanzania.

After various procedural referrals, the lawyers of the two parties were able to plead.

Summary of hearing with Charlotte Cosset.

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At the Paris court on Wednesday, it was the plaintiff who spoke first.

This is the first time that a company has 

been assigned under the duty of vigilance law adopted in March 2017.

Friends of the Earth, Survie and four Ugandan NGOs therefore attempted to demonstrate how TotalEnergies failed to fulfill its duty of care in Uganda and Tanzania.

For this, the lawyers detailed the insufficiencies, according to them,

of the plan of vigilance of the oil firm

.

But they also highlighted the urgency and seriousness of perceived perils on the ground, such as human rights abuses and imminent damage to the environment.

► To read also: Tanzania: the TotalEnergies pipeline project questioned for human rights violations

"

The case is emblematic, let's not be afraid of words

," said one of the plaintiff's lawyers.

It is, according to her, "

to put an end to the impunity of multinationals on their activities abroad

".

We are not in our place

Total's defense denounced this "

obstinacy

" in wanting to make it an emblematic case and criticized a "

maximalist vision

" of NGOs.

The oil major's lawyers did not plead on the merits of the case, unlike the plaintiffs.

They preferred to stick to a formal argument, detailing the points according to which this case would not be admissible in a procedure concerning the duty of vigilance.

For the major, claims on the issues of compensation for land and food aid, for example, do not come under it.

They also argued for the Ugandan subsidiary's autonomy from Paris.

We are not in our place

”, concluded the defense, specifying that Total is ready to enter into mediation, conciliation.

The meeting was adjourned to February 28.

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