Sustainability and Oil Exploration in Uganda – The case of Uganda's Albertine Region.: Oil Exploration and Sustainability
Author
Namuyondo, Esther
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2014
Submitted on
2014-01-09
Pages
59
Abstract
Fundet af rentable olie- og gasreserver i Albertine Graben-bassinet i det sydvestlige Uganda kan mangedoble statens indtægter og ændre landets position som et lavindkomst, bistandsafhængigt land. Men kommerciel udnyttelse medfører store miljø- og styringsmæssige udfordringer: svage institutioner, begrænset offentlig deltagelse, mangelfuld informationsudveksling, mangel på kvalificeret arbejdskraft i olieindustrien, fravær af centrale politikker samt svage organisatoriske strukturer og styringssystemer. Sådanne forhold fører til uholdbare beslutninger på både nationalt og lokalt niveau og øger risikoen for social uro, sabotage af olieaktiviteter og den såkaldte ressourceforbandelse, hvor råstofrigdom ender med at skabe økonomiske og politiske problemer i stedet for bred udvikling. Afhandlingen undersøger, hvordan langsigtede bæredygtige tiltag kan sættes i centrum for forvaltningen af naturressourcer, inklusive mineralefterforskning, med læring fra bedste praksis i Botswana, et andet land i Subsahara. Med en kvalitativ metode peger studiet på, at robuste institutioner, veludformede politikker og en organiseret, gennemsigtig styring, der følger retsstatens principper, er afgørende for at styre aktiviteter i olieindustrien og undgå skadelige konsekvenser for både beboere og miljø.
The discovery of commercially attractive oil and gas reserves in the Albertine Graben basin in southwestern Uganda could multiply government revenues and shift the country’s status as a low-income, aid-dependent nation. However, commercial development brings major environmental and governance challenges: weak institutions, limited public participation, gaps in information flow, a shortage of skilled labor in the oil sector, missing key policies, and fragile organizational structures and governance systems. These conditions can lead to unsustainable decisions at national and community levels and raise the risk of civil unrest, sabotage of oil operations, and the resource curse, where natural resource wealth results in economic and political problems instead of broad-based development. The thesis examines long-term sustainable approaches that place sustainability at the center of natural resource management, including mineral exploration, drawing lessons from best practices in Botswana, another Sub-Saharan country. Using a qualitative research method, the study concludes that robust institutions, well-designed policies, and organized, transparent governance that follows the rule of law are crucial to steer the oil industry and avoid harmful outcomes for both people and the environment.
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