Voix du Paysan: Informing and Empowering Citizens for Social and Climate Justice
While the EACOP project is often presented as a driver of energy development and economic growth, communities affected by its route continue to face a very different reality. In many localities, households still rely on kerosene lamps, candles, charcoal, and other polluting fuels to meet their daily energy needs and for basic lighting. This situation highlights a striking paradox: people living at the heart of a major oil infrastructure project remain deprived of reliable, affordable, and clean energy access.
Testimonies collected from affected communities reveal that only a small proportion of households use solar solutions, mainly for domestic lighting and charging mobile phones. However, the high cost of solar equipment remains a significant barrier for most residents. While attention is focused on the profits and promises associated with oil development, local communities continue to bear the social, economic, and environmental consequences of an energy system that fails to meet their fundamental needs.
In the face of this injustice, affected populations are calling for concrete measures to ensure equitable access to clean energy. In particular, they advocate for subsidy programs that would make solar products more affordable and reduce their dependence on costly and polluting fuels. These voices serve as a powerful reminder that a genuine energy transition cannot be built on the exclusion of communities; it must place their rights, well-being, and access to sustainable solutions at the center of decision-making processes.
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