Kei Emmanuel Duku
A coalition of 53 civil society organizations and the Worker’s Trade Union of Petroleum and Mining in South Sudan has accused PETRONAS Carigali Nile United (PCNL) of extensive environmental pollution during its operations in the country.
PCNL, a subsidiary of the Malaysian state-owned energy company PETRONAS, operated in the country from 1997 to 2003. According to the activists, the company’s activities in Unity State, Upper Nile, and other areas resulted in significant environmental damage.
The coalition alleges that PCNL’s operations contributed to the birth of children with deformities in oil-producing regions. They also accuse the company of exposing women to toxic waste through contaminated air and water.
In August 2024, PCNL announced its intention to divest its South Sudan assets, valued at $1.25 billion, to a UK-based company, Savannah Energy.
However, the South Sudanese government rejected this proposal. PCNL has since filed a lawsuit against the government at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
The Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources in South Sudan is calling on the government to withhold approval for PCNL’s divestment until an environmental audit report is released.
The coalition argues that PCNL is responsible for 40% of the environmental damage caused by oil companies in South Sudan.
Section 100(8) of the South Sudan Petroleum Act 2012 requires all petroleum activities to be conducted in a manner that minimizes environmental impact. The coalition asserts that PCNL has failed to comply with these regulations.
This is not the first time PCNL has faced allegations of wrongdoing in South Sudan. In 2021, the company was accused of human rights violations and complicity in war crimes. In May 2024, a criminal investigation was opened against two former PCNL executives in Austria.
Furthermore, the coalition is appealing to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to seek the indictment of PETRONAS and its top executives in the International Justice System.
The coalition is demanding that the South Sudanese government hold PCNL accountable for its environmental damage and human rights abuses. They are also calling for the immediate release of the 2022 environmental audit report.