TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné has pushed back against recent accusations of human rights and environmental violations linked to the company's operations in East Africa, defending the company’s conduct during a tense annual shareholder meeting on Friday.
The backlash comes after Michel Forst, a UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders, urged the French energy giant to urgently address new allegations involving threats and mistreatment of environmental activists tied to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and its associated projects. Forst criticized the company for what he described as a lack of meaningful action to protect defenders of environmental rights.
This call for accountability coincided with a significant move by German investment firm Union Investment, which divested from TotalEnergies’ bonds and stocks in its sustainability-focused portfolios. The decision followed a damning report from Just Finance International, a non-profit that alleged human rights violations at the Kingfisher oil field in Uganda—an integral part of the controversial pipeline initiative.
Speaking to shareholders, Pouyanné defended TotalEnergies’ role in the region, asserting the projects are being developed in accordance with the company's values. "We believe in the positive impact these initiatives bring to local communities and national development," he stated, emphasizing that it's preferable for companies like TotalEnergies—with a stated commitment to human rights—to manage such projects over firms that may not share the same standards.
Pouyanné’s remarks attempted to distinguish TotalEnergies as a more responsible actor in a challenging and scrutinized energy development landscape. He also reiterated the company’s claim that many of the criticisms are based on "misunderstandings" of the projects’ actual impact.
However, Forst rejected this defense, calling it “deeply troubling” that the company has consistently dismissed activist concerns. He noted that under the Aarhus Convention—a legal framework France has ratified—TotalEnergies is obligated to ensure that individuals opposing environmental risks are protected from retaliation and harassment.
In response to growing scrutiny, TotalEnergies issued a formal statement affirming its zero-tolerance policy toward violence or intimidation against human rights advocates, reiterating its commitment to uphold international human rights standards across its operations.
As pressure mounts from investors, NGOs, and international watchdogs, TotalEnergies now faces the challenge of maintaining both its operational ambitions and its environmental and social license to operate in one of the most sensitive regions of the global energy sector.