Under the Environment and Natural Resources thematic area, CSCO works to contribute to conservation of the environment and better management of land and other natural resources. CSCO is committed to keeping environmental compliance in check while leading actions on the nexus between oil and gas, mining, and energy transition. CSCO deploys efforts and resources to highlight the sensitivity of the Albertine Graben given its high biodiversity, ecosystem dwellers, and the potential impact of planned and ongoing oil and gas projects. The institutions mandated to ensure compliance by key industry actors are sometimes complacent, have limiting budget allocations for their operations, and are exposed to the support offered from commercial industry operators that can compromise their integrity. The work on Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), contingency planning and periodic monitoring of compliance by key actors now has to be cognizant of climate change concerns and the nature of debates interfacing oil, gas, and mineral production. In particular, oil and gas production could lose out to the progressive global movement towards clean energy where fossil fuels have negligible or not place.
The government of Uganda has put in place an energy policy to respond to the transition and other energy concerns and aspirations. Between 2017 and 2021, the focus was on mineral governance, especially for Uganda’s gold, a few rare earth and other minerals. Among the key issues of concern, there are both policy and practice challenges in the mining sector. For instance, the methods and technology employed in gold mining among others. Certainly issues related to regulations, royalties, and rights of artisan miners among others need to be addressed. The energy transition has introduced a new perspective to mineral development because of their role thus giving greater importance to minerals that were previously underrated. CSCO will continue to provide leadership in reviewing the policies, and generating the broader energy transition issues and positions for advocacy.