By Juma Nsubuga
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Dr Ruth Nankabirwa has handed over 105 resettlement houses, land tittles and agricultural inputs to the people whose primary residences were impacted during the identification of land for the construction of the Tilenga project facilities.
The handover ceremony was held at Kirama village, Kigwera sub-county in Buliisa district.
“Am very happy that I have seen the houses which are in good conditions and beneficiaries are also happy too since their standards of living have been modified” the minister noted adding that the beneficiaries are going to engage in production since they have been given the modern agricultural inputs to help them produce food which will be consumed by people on the site.
“The commissioned houses are part of the planned 235 to be built for the project affected persons (PAPs)” the minister said adding that these modern houses comprise of solar powered system, rainwater harvest water tanks among others.
Nankabirwa commended Total Energies for what she called the good work.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the General manager Total Energies, Philippe Groueix said that “the project we are undertaking for livelihood restoration are enshrined in one of our sustainable development pillars focused on people’s well being”
He added that “we would like to contribute towards creating positive impact and shared value with the people affected by the project and those living in the vicinity of our activities”.
The Tilenga Land Acquisition and resettlement process is being executed in line with national and international laws as well as international guidelines stipulated in the international finance corporation performance standard and in construction and engagement with various stakeholders to include project communities,government agencies and civil society organizations among others.
Nankabirwa further paid a courtesy visit to Tilenga project industrial area where the central processing facility is taking place.
Tilenga project is projected to accommodate over 4000 residential workers.
” I have also checked on the Ngiri 3 Rig which is installed in Tilenga and will be soon in the near future. It is 85 percent completed and work is going on very well” she noted.
The minister also noted that the central processing facility is moving on very well.
The Tilenga project has over 426 Oil Wells to be developed in 31 locations of which 10 Oil Wells are found in Murchasion Falls National Park and other 21 Oil Wells are spread out in Buliisa district.
