Frontline Struggles

Stop EACOP

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline is a heated oil pipeline currently under construction. Once completed, it will stretch for almost 1,443 kilometres across Tanzania and Uganda – making it the longest heated crude oil pipeline in the world.

The pipeline will disturb sensitive ecosystems including the Lake Victoria basin, a vital water supply supporting 40 million people, and threatens to destroy habitats for already-vulnerable species, including the Eastern Chimpanzee and the African Elephant. Its ongoing construction has already displaced thousands of people in villages in Uganda, with over 100,000 people expected to be displaced in total. It’s not surprising that banks and investors have already been warned about the climate and human rights risks of the pipeline.

Building a new crude oil pipeline as the whole world is trying to urgently shift away from fossil fuels makes no sense – environmentally or economically. The people of countries in East and Central Africa shouldn’t be burdened with the money-losing and polluting industries of yesterday. French oil giant Total and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation own a combined 70% of the pipeline, meaning the vast majority of any profits made will end up overseas. It’s not only being financed abroad – we know EACOP is seeking insurance on the London market.

Frontline communities in Uganda, Tanzania, and neighbouring countries are standing up against EACOP. Their continuous opposition to the pipeline and its associated projects has led directly to banks and insurers ruling out the project. But those who are demanding an end to this project face massive risks for their bravery – including intimidation, arrest, and police brutality.

Our pressure has led to 28 banks and 29 insurance companies ruling out providing support to the EACOP project due to the unacceptable environment and human rights impacts. This has led to delays in financing the project, causing it to stall. Many Lloyd’s Managing Agents are still to rule it out - we need to pressure them to change their mind.

EACOP is 4.5 years delayed by activists and counting, largely from getting insurers to rule out enabling the project.

West Cumbria Mine

West Cumbria Mining Ltd wants to extract 2.78 million tonnes of coking coal annually, in what would be the UK's first new underground coal mine in 30 years. The coal would mainly be exported overseas due to its high sulphur content and the transition of the UK steel industry to green steel.

We are living on the brink of climate catastrophe as well as many collapsing local ecosystems around the UK. Allowing this new coal mine now would cost the UK in terms of its environment, publicly funded infrastructure, and climate leadership - setting a terrible example to other countries. Resources must instead be invested in generating green jobs within West Cumbria, proving that it is not a choice of jobs in climate-trashing industries or unemployment—as that’s not a choice to most people.

The fight to stop the West Cumbria mine has been raging for years now, with planning objections, political pressure, legal challenges and protests. With the mine still on track to go ahead.

EMR Capital, the company behind the project, is currently trying to raise £300 million for the construction of the mine. We know a key part of securing funding is locking-in insurance. If we can cut off insurance we can create delays and possibly even stop the project from going ahead.

So far 7 insurers have ruled out the project. We believe many more will if they start to feel public pressure.