NO OIL PRODUCTION IN TOGO: A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OR A MISLEADING NARRATIVE ?
According to an article published by Vert Togo, Togo has not yet begun oil production. The report has sparked discussions among organizations working on environmental protection and climate justice.
For Kwami Kpondzo, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CJE-Togo), if this information is confirmed, it would represent a positive direction that should be maintained. He notes that Togo is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, which calls on countries to gradually reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
« If Togo is not producing oil, that is good news » he said, while pointing out that reports continue to circulate regarding possible offshore oil activities along the country’s coastline. According to him, such claims should be carefully verified before any conclusions are drawn.
Kpondzo also recalled that in 2012, seismic surveys conducted by the company EMI suggested the presence of potentially exploitable oil reserves before the exploration contract was eventually cancelled.
The environmental advocate stressed that the experiences of oil-producing countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Chad demonstrate that petroleum exploitation can have significant consequences for the environment, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of local communities. He therefore urged the Togolese authorities to maintain their current course of avoiding oil exploitation and to prioritize policies that support the energy transition and the protection of natural ecosystems.
According to the Executive Director of CJE-Togo, the priority today is for the government to continue pursuing a development model that is less dependent on fossil fuels. « It is essential to stay the course and prioritize sustainable solutions for future generations » he emphasized.
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