Campaigners against a planned fossil fuel pipeline brought the voices of Africa to Manchester (11 May 2023) as part of a protest outside the country’s largest insurance industry convention.
The activists were calling on companies attending the BIBA 2023 Convention at Manchester Central to commit to not insuring the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
EACOP is planned to take oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfield to the port of Tanga in Tanzania. Campaigner from Stop EACOP oppose the project because of the pipeline’s contribution to climate change, and the impact on local communities in Africa. They also question the financial viability of the scheme as the world moves away from fossil fuels.
As well as banner and placards, the protesters outside the conference centre brough recorded messages from people in East Africa affected by the pipeline.
Opposition to the pipeline has already resulted in 22 insurance companies and 25 major banks ruling out insuring or financing EACOP and it is hoped that more will make the same pledge. The project is already several years behind schedule.
Stop EACOP campaigner Clara Paillard said “People in the UK have a responsibility to amplify the voices of climate justice activists in Uganda and Tanzania who are already on the frontline of the effects of climate change. We protested at the BIBA insurance conference to ask insurers NOT to support the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline. They are the enablers of Carbon Bombs like EACOP and have the power to stop it"