Field research by PINGO’s Forum on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline reveals that consultation processes are performative and fail to meet Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) standards. Only 23% of respondents were consulted during the planning or implementation phase, with a mere 4% feeling that their feedback influenced project decisions. The report further stated that meaningful participation is obstructed by systemic barriers, including a lack of access to information and language difficulties. This exclusion heavily impacts marginalized groups; over half of the affected respondents lack formal education, and a third were initially unaware of the pipeline, leaving them feeling powerless over its progression.

These procedural failures have resulted in severe real-world consequences, as 43% of participants reported negative livelihood impacts from displacement and the loss of grazing lands. Furthermore, the exhumation of ancestral graves has caused profound cultural disruption for communities, such as the Maasai, who have never experienced such actions on their traditional lands

In a response to our invitation, EACOP denied the allegations and stated that the project is committed to ensuring that every affected person continues to have a voice and a meaningful role in decisions that impact their lives, aligned with the principle of respect for human rights required by its Code of Conduct and Human Rights Policy.

EACOP further stated that consultations and compensation process were undertaken in accordance with applicable national laws, relevant international standards (International Finance Corporation Performance Standard 5), the approved Resettlement Action Plan (2019 – approved by Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC)), and the established land acquisition procedures.