OIL DRILLING VERSUS TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

By Baluku Geoffrey
Kampala, Uganda

Much of Uganda's tourism is based on nature and wildlife. Surprisingly, a few weeks back Uganda Wildlife Authority the custodians in charge of all National Parks in the country did send out a circular to some lodge owners in Murchison Falls National Park informing them of the extensive oil drilling activities expected there soon.

As a result new tourism circuits/ alternative new tracks to Buligi circuit are already being planned between Paraa and Wangkwar junction.

Murchison Falls National Park where Buligi circuit and the delta region are found is renowned for the rich diversity in both game and bird species including the endangered shoe bill stork.

From Mr. Mapesa’s article in the new vision of 26th August 2009, it is evident that the organization he represents is faced with forces beyond their reach. If not, how can some one leading the wildlife authority claim that tourism will not be affected? Considering the tensions and conflicts surrounding areas with oil world over it disturbed my mind reading that article. Even from the sensitivity atlas report of May 2009 as shown on NEMA’s website, it is clear that Murchison falls National Park lies in a highly sensitive area that is bound to be affected.

With all due respect to the Executive Director of UWA, allow me note that Tour Operators and whole sellers abroad are risk averse and do seek “safe” destinations. Tourism is all about product and in Murchison falls National Park the product is wildlife and the clean waters of the Nile and Lake Albert. It is important for the stake holders and other concerned Ugandans to know the technical and scientific issues in the Environment Impact Assessment rather than the Political issues.

Is UWA convinced that the negative impacts will be minimal? I doubt! Why? Leaving out the normal rhetoric from some of our leaders, it is obvious that the drilling will negatively impact on the behavior of the wildlife in Murchison falls National Park hence leading to death and other animals migrating into neighboring villages where they could cause havoc or be poisoned. It is a known fact that oil drilling involves extracting crude oil by drilling through the rock cap. Crude oil a fossil fuel that is found deep under the earth’s surface is formed from the remains of plants and animals that are subjected to high pressure and temperature. Anaerobic micro organisms then act slowly on the dead plants and animals in the absence of oxygen forming carbon rich organic layers that are then subjected to this high temperature and pressure there by leading to the formation of crude oil and natural gas.

In the process of trying to locate this oil, the environment is affected as the oil is under the rock cap. Techniques such as use of sniffers, magnetometers, gravity meters, satellite imaging and seismology are used to locate this crude oil. With the seismology method shock waves are sent to the lake or land surface so as to estimate the time taken by the waves to return back. Through some of the above methods several oil reserves have been discovered in the Albertine Graben. Among these are Mputa 1, Mputa 3, Mputa 4, Mputa 5, Ngassa, Waragai – 1, King fisher 1, 2 and 3, Nzizi-1, kasamene, Ngege 1, Tai tari 1 and Kanuka. Of particular contention are oil reserves Warthog, Crocodile, Giraffe and Buffalo.

As far as I know the wild life act of Uganda has never been changed to allow for such dangerous activities in any National Park of the country. Petroleum products last year estimated at US$500 million were consumed by Uganda as compared to Tourism that brought in an estimate US$600 million. Oil drilling outside the park is welcome as it will help the technical people better understand the real impacts of oil drilling prior to encroaching on a protected area like Murchison Falls National. This thus calls for a proactive approach so that the goose that lays the golden eggs (Tourism) is not affected.

The tourism industry in Africa and Uganda to be particular often operates below international competitive standards however; some facilities and products already meet international competitive standards of excellence. For example Nile Safari Lodge and Paraa Safari Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park. Considering that the challenge for Uganda as a country had always been limited high end accommodation facilities, and now that there are additions such as Chobe Lodge everything possible should be done for the best interest of Tourism.

As opposed to Tourism, oil drilling is a short term job creator that is usually under taken by a few international companies such as Tower Resources, Tullow, Dominion and Heritage Oil and Gas Ltd for the case of Uganda.

The need to secure profits for the share holders of the aforesaid companies means that they have to achieve results at any cost. And the results (revenue generation) from the above companies may lead them to hold great sway over our governments which may compromise the Political agenda of our county hence undermine democracy.

Oil drilling wastes such as the mud cuttings, drilling muds, produced waters all contain varied toxic chemicals that are VERY dangerous to wildlife in form of shortened life span.

The drilling in the delta region of Murchison Falls National Park is also likely to lower the Nile water and Lake Albert quality both through accidental leaks and spills. At every stage of the drilling process the environment will surely suffer as already evidenced from the mud cuttings.

A big percentage of gas produced is flared causing considerable ecological damage to other resources such as land and water. How are the oil companies going to mitigate this?

Gas flares produce soot which most likely will be deposited on building roofs of neighboring villages and when it rains the soot is washed off with the black ink like water running from the roofs which is dangerous for human consumption, the soils and vegetation.

Fluctuations in Tourism are mainly due to a country’s conditions rather than the price. How is Uganda Wildlife Authority going to balance oil drilling and tourism development considering they are tasked to protect Uganda’s wildlife resources for the current and future generations? It is important to note that Murchison Falls National Park is not an “island”. What happens there is bound to affect the general tourism industry of Uganda.