International NGO Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has launched an attack on independent energy company Perenco, citing that the company played a “pivotal role in the death of six workers” at its Becuna platform, offshore Gabon. EIA turned to slander and defamatory remarks to report its ‘investigation’, blaming the company for a tragic incident that occurred in 2024. The accusation is both baseless and unjustified, and reflects a broader trend by NGOs determined to drag the very companies that not only support but drive Africa’s economic development.
In March 2024, Perenco reported a tragic accident at its Becuna platform – situated at the Simba field – whereby six workers lost their lives. Following rising oil and a gas leak, an explosion broke out at part of the platform. The incident took place on March 20 at approximately 15:25, with personnel moving quickly to secure the area and place the fire under control. The Perenco team activated emergency services and the communicated with the relevant authorities, announcing that further information would be made available as soon as possible. In the days following the incident, Perenco released three separate statements, each providing an update on the incident and the company’s steps to secure the platform and support the families of those that were lost. A year later, EIA has decided to cast blame on Perenco for the tragedy.
The question is, why now? EIA has chosen to ignore the actions taken by Perenco in the weeks following the incident, rather focusing on baseless claims and unsupported information to accuse the company of causing the tragedy. A report issued by the EIA claims that Perenco allegedly pressured witnesses, obstructed auditors and issued a $65,000 bribe. The misinformation spread by EIA does nothing but harm Perenco, the oil and gas industry, and Africa. The incident was a tragedy, and one in which Perenco and the industry has learnt a great deal from.
Perenco’s record has been impeccable, with the company winning numerous awards for its operational excellence in the past. These include Operational Excellence Leader of the Year in 2023 at the African Energy Awards and Local Content Champion of the Year in 2024. The company has also spearheaded sustainable oil production, with its investments in mature assets not only revitalizing production but effectively eliminating environmental impacts. The company has been one of Africa’s most credible producers, taking ageing oilfields that could destroy the environment and making them world-class producing assets.
Perenco has also implemented a series of mechanisms aimed at prioritizing the health and safety of workers. Notably, the company has internal and external training programs that equip workers with the requisite knowledge and skills to operate safely. The company also has a Work Safely Initiative in place. Established in collaboration with global consulting firm DSS+, the initiative seeks to raise awareness and engagement on health and safety – from senior manager to on-site workers. DSS+ is a globally renowned consultancy that specializes in safety and operational excellence.
The company has also created thousands of jobs, driven local content and pioneering women-in-energy opportunities in many countries in which it operates. Perenco is also one of the biggest tax payers in the CEMAC region, investing heavily in low-carbon projects that promise new opportunities for energy security, environmental protection and development. These include the Cap Lopez LNG terminal in Gabon, where $2 billion is being directed to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by monetizing offshore gas. This project is expected to play a central part in driving a just energy transition in Africa while creating economic opportunities and alleviating energy poverty.
Ignoring this, the EIA has chosen to leverage a tragedy to advance its own agenda. Publishing misinformation under the guise of “exposing” Perenco. This is part of a broader trend seen across Africa, as NGOs hinder any progress to make energy poverty history in Africa. In South Africa, two NGOs – GreenConnection and BLOOM – launched an opposition of TotalEnergies oil and gas exploration in 2022 while Greenpeace legally opposed Shell’s right to explore for oil and gas during the same year. In Mozambique, over 100 NGOs called for financial institutions to stop funding the country’s LNG projects – despite the significant economic opportunities the clean energy developments would bring to the country. In Uganda, environmental groups are opposing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, despite the high levels of energy poverty experienced in the country. The EIA’s recent report is just another one of these brazen attacks on the industry.
“EIA is using a tragedy – the death of six workers – to advance its own agenda. EIA is exerting its own biased agenda as it continues to defame, attack and cast blame on the oil and gas industry with an end goal to say just stop oil. This is outlandish, unfortunate and unwarranted. It is shocking that Perenco, a company that has invested so much, created so many jobs and champions Africa is being targeted by western organizations that don’t go through what every African goes through every day: energy poverty,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, adding that the company is hurt and has worked diligently with the government and the families of the victims in ways that have never been seen in Africa.
“This approach should be commended and not defamatory attacks,” Ayuk notes.
