Uganda: Return of TotalEnergies, between promises and uncertainties for the inhabitants.

Patrick Pouyanné, the head of TotalEnergies, is preparing his big return to East Africa. After a few years of tensions and hesitations, the CEO is preparing to take a deep dive into the troubled waters of the region, marked by ambitious projects and explosive geopolitical issues. His imminent visit raises a burning question: is TotalEnergies' return to this region a blessing or a curse for the inhabitants?

Oil ambitions under high tension

The first thing to note is that TotalEnergies is not here to bring candy and marshmallows! With a pipeline project of nearly 1,443 kilometers linking the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) oil field in Uganda to the Tanzanian coast, the financial stakes are disproportionate. Some $3.5 billion are at stake, and the environmental impact is already making waves. Between the support of certain governments and the opposition of environmental groups, the mayonnaise is likely to rise!

The ball of interests

Nothing is ever simple when money and politics are involved. Indeed, the understandings for infrastructure and extraction projects are intertwined in a complex game of alliances and rivalries. In the middle of this dance, Pouyanné will have to navigate between economic opportunities and environmental responsibilities, without forgetting the legitimacy of the power in place. Who does not know the saying: "When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers"? In this case, the elephants are armed with contracts and promises, leaving local communities to struggle between the need for progress and the fear of destruction.

Promises of income from exploitation

Of course, to attract investors and reassure populations, the official discourse evokes promises of job creation and infrastructure improvement. But skeptics point out that these promises often have a bitter taste. Who still remembers the promises made during similar projects in Africa? The reality is often less shiny than the tourist brochures extolling the wonders of a region ready to be exploited. So, Patrick, can we really believe in the sirens of the oil industry?

In short, Patrick Pouyanné's return to East Africa is a veritable mix of opportunities and risks. The petrochemical industry is a world of contradictions, where promises of prosperity rub shoulders with the often cruel realities of exploitation. Will the inhabitants be the beneficiaries or the sacrifices of this energetic dance? Time will tell.