TotalEnergies CEO defends company against East Africa abuse allegations

By America Hernandez and Simon Jessop

PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) -TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanne defended the company's work on oil projects in East Africa on Friday, after an independent U.N. human rights expert said the French firm should urgently address fresh allegations of abuses.

In a statement released late on Thursday, Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders Michel Forst said the company must take immediate action to protect activists linked to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline and connected oilfields.

That followed a decision by German asset manager Union Investment to drop TotalEnergies' bonds and shares from its sustainable investment funds over the issue.

Pouyanne addressed criticism of the East African projects related to their alleged environmental and human rights impacts during the company's annual shareholders meeting.

"We develop these projects with the values and principles that are ours, we are convinced of the good they do for the countries and the local populations," he said.

He added that projects like the one in Uganda are better done by TotalEnergies rather than others, who may care less about human rights and the environment.

Union Investment said it took its decision after reviewing a fresh report from non-profit Just Finance International citing alleged abuses at the Kingfisher oil site in Uganda, part of the pipeline project.

Forst said TotalEnergies had failed to take effective steps to address abuses against activists, adding it was "deeply troubling" that "it has instead consistently rejected the allegations as mere 'misconceptions' of the projects' impact".

As a French company, Forst said TotalEnergies was bound by the Aarhus Convention - an agreement protecting public rights to participation in environmental matters - to ensure individuals were not penalised or harassed for their opposition to the projects.

Earlier, the company released a statement saying it "does not tolerate any threats or violence against those who peacefully defend and promote human rights" and reminds those it works with of its position on the subject.

The company added that it worked with Ugandan authorities "to stress to the police the need to ensure that due process is followed, the protesters are treated well, and their rights are respected while in detention".

The security team of its local unit also monitors the wellbeing of anyone arrested and ensures their representatives are able to visit them, it said.

Forst backed a call by Union Investment for an independent investigation into the alleged abuses. As well as making the results public and acting on any shortcomings, he also asked TotalEnergies to use its leverage to prevent any further attacks.

(Reporting by America Hernandez and Simon Jessop; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Joe Bavier)