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Eni’s new energy projects threaten congo rainforest
Media Releases | Oilwatch Africa | November 09, 2009
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This is the first tar sands exploration in Africa2, while the palm oil project for food and agro-fuels would be one of the largest on the continent. Eni’s deal was signed in 2008 with the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), an oil-rich but poor state with minimal transparency and respect for human rights. Forests cover two thirds of Congo and are essential for the livelihoods of local people, as well as a vital carbon sink. Congo’s Government wants to lead on stewarding the global resource of the Basin3, but its record on forest law enforcement and environmental protection is weak.
Eni is currently ranked as the world’s most “sustainable” oil company4. Most recently, its CEO Paolo Scaroni urged delegates at the UN Leadership Forum in New York to take action on climate change5. Yet research shows that Eni’s new investments in Congo are not a step down the path of energy sustainability. “With less than a month to go to the Copenhagen summit, Eni’s projects undermine its green credentials. They also highlight the wider costs of promoting high-carbon, export-driven energy investments – especially in ecologically sensitive areas with poor governance”, commented Barbara Unmüssig, President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.
Eni’s tar sands exploration is taking place over a huge 1,790 KM2 area. The exact location of the oil palm plantation is unknown, but it will claim 70,000 hectares of “unfarmed” land. Eni says neither project will take place on rainforest and areas of high biodiversity or involve resettlement of people. Yet privately, Eni estimates the tar sands zone comprises 50 to 70% rainforest and other highly environmentally sensitive areas. According to Congolese human rights activist Brice Mackosso (Justice and Peace Commission, Pointe-Noire): “Local people, already suffering the impacts of oil development, have not been meaningfully consulted over the new projects. This violates Eni’s own human rights and environmental policies”.
In Alberta, Canada, tar sands development has led to destruction of the boreal forest, air and water pollution, and health impacts for downstream communities. Producing a barrel of oil from bitumen is 3 to 5 times higher in greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil, and Canadians now have the highest carbon footprint of any G8 citizens. Equally, monoculture plantations for agro-fuels are a major source of the deforestation that accounts for 20% of global emissions. Oil palm cultivation is also linked to increased food insecurity, land conflicts, human rights abuses and threats to indigenous groups.
“Eni’s new projects point to a lack of oversight by its key shareholder, the Italian Government” states Elena Gerebizza of Italian group Campaign for the Reform of the World Bank. “Italy has a clear responsibility to ensure that investments by Eni consider fully their likely developmental and climate impacts, and do not work against the country’s international commitments, such as reducing carbon emissions”.
For more information:
Karoline Hutter, Heinrich Böll Foundation: +49 30 28534 202 or mobile +49 160 365 7722.
Luca Manes, CRBM: +39.06.78 26 855 or mobile +39.335.57 21 837.
Brice Mackosso, Christian Mounzéo (RPDH); Sarah Wykes (Project Manager): +44 7971 064433.
Notes1. The report is published by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the foundation of the German Green party, and signed by: Bank Track, Campaign for the Reform of the World Bank (CRBM), Fondazione Culturale Responsibilità, Friends of the Earth International, Justice and Peace Commission, Pointe-Noire (Congo), Misereor, Platform, Rainforest Action Network (RAN), Rencontre pour la paix et les droits de l’homme (RPDH, Congo) and Secours Catholique/Caritas. The report is available at: http://www.foeeurope.org/corporates/Extractives/Energy_Futures_eng.pdf, http://www.boell.de or http://www.crbm.org.
2. Tar sands (called oil sands by the industry) are deposits of sand and clay saturated with bitumen that must be extracted and processed or “upgraded” to produce synthetic crude oil. These processes are highly intensive in energy and water use. Canada is the only place where industrial-scale tar sands extraction is currently taking place.
3. Republic of Congo, 2009. See: http://www.congo-brazzaville.org/an-open-letter-to-president-obama.
4. Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, 2009. “Global Supersector leaders 2008/2009”. See: http://www.sustainabilityindexes.com/07_htmle/indexes/djsiworld_supersectorleaders_08.html.
5. Eni, 2009. “Paoli Scaroni at the UN”, 22 September 2009. See: http://www.eni.it/en_IT/media/media-archive/speeches-interviews/scaroni-at-the-un.shtml.
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