At dawn, Lake Albert is a tranquil blue. Canoes leave the shore at Kasenyi, nets are lowered into the water, and fish wriggle in the morning light. Here, fishing isn’t a job; it’s a way of life. But beneath this expanse of water lies another treasure: oil reserves estimated at several billion barrels throughout the Albertine Basin.
For nearly twenty years, contracts have been signed to explore and potentially exploit this oil on the Congolese side. Yet, the local communities claim they have never been officially informed of the decisions made concerning their territory. This investigation retraces the agreements made, the administrative silences, and the environmental concerns that now weigh heavily on Kasenyi and Tchomia.
Contracts signed far from the shores
The Congolese side of Lake Albert’s oil history is not a recent one. It is part of a series of agreements concluded far from the shoreline communities.
In 2006, the first exploration concessions were awarded in the Albertine Graben basin. Seismic surveys were launched to assess the hydrocarbon potential beneath the waters and shores of the lake. These initial operations marked Lake Albert’s official inclusion in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s strategic oil map.
In 2008, further contractual adjustments were made. Transfers of interests and asset reorganizations altered the configuration of the allocated blocks. These revisions, which received little media attention, already fueled criticism of the lack of transparency surrounding the management of extractive resources in the region.
Then in 2010, a production sharing contract was signed for blocks 1 and 2, covering approximately 6,000 square kilometers. These blocks were awarded to private companies linked to businessman Dan Gertler, with an operational stake held by Oil of DR Congo.
The contract notably includes:
- A five-year exploration phase
- The execution of additional seismic studies
- Exploratory drilling
- Environmental impact studies
- Social obligations in favor of local communities
However, according to an internal document from the Ministry of Hydrocarbons dated 2018 and consulted as part of this investigation, the minimum contractual work was not fully completed within the scheduled timeframe.
In 2021, the permits officially expire.
In theory, the state should then have either reallocated the blocks or declared them vacant. However, no detailed public communication has been made to the local communities regarding the actual termination of the contract, a possible renegotiation, or a new call for tenders.
In 2026, while the Congolese government is relaunching a new dynamic of awarding oil blocks nationwide and is showing a willingness to revitalize the hydrocarbon sector, the precise status of the old blocks in Lake Albert remains unclear to local populations.
In Kasenyi, residents say they have never been officially informed of the decisions made regarding a resource located beneath their waters. The contracts were signed in Kinshasa.
But on the shores of the lake, silence persists.
The base that ignores
In Kasenyi, the local chief admits his lack of information.
“Sir, I have no information regarding the oil contract you mentioned,” he explained. “In 2006, studies were conducted by Oil of Congo. Since they left, we haven’t received anything.”
He insists:
“At the local level, we have no decision-making power. The decision rests at a higher level of the country. If planning is to be done, the grassroots must be involved. Otherwise, it won’t be good for the people.”
However, the Congolese Petroleum Code provides for consultation with local communities and consideration of environmental issues.
In Kasenyi:
- Health centers lack essential equipment
- The schools operate with precarious infrastructure.
- No social programs linked to the old oil contracts are visible.
The gap between contractual obligations and local reality is evident.
A threatened lake economy
Lake Albert is home to more than 50 species of fish, including several endemic ones. Artisanal fishing is the main source of income for thousands of families.
At the fishermen’s camp, the anxiety is palpable.
“If the lake is polluted, we have nothing left,” says the camp leader.
An environmental biologist consulted for this investigation warns:”An oil spill in a closed lake environment would have lasting consequences on biodiversity, water quality, and food security.”
The risk is not theoretical. In other parts of the world, oil drilling in aquatic areas has led to contamination, species extinction, and land disputes. In Kasenyi, fishermen fear that drilling will restrict access to fishing grounds and destroy the ecosystem on which they depend.
Women and the fear of displacement
At the Kasenyi market, several female traders refused to be interviewed. Off-camera, their concerns were clear:
“If the lake dies, our children will go hungry.””They talk about oil, but we live off fish.”
They fear a rise in the cost of living, expropriations or restrictions on access to the riverbanks.
A youth caught between expectation and mistrust
For young people, oil represents a possible hope for employment. But mistrust prevails.
“They talk to us about development, but we have neither training nor information,” confides a young man from Kasenyi. “We don’t want to be excluded from our own community.”
The Ugandan mirror
On the other side of the lake, in Uganda, the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects are under development, along with a pipeline of over 1,400 kilometers to Tanzania. Environmental organizations have repeatedly warned of the ecological risks and population displacements associated with these projects. Uganda’s progress is raising expectations and concerns in the Congo.
Transparency and governance
According to international good governance standards, particularly those recommended by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), oil contracts should be publicly accessible. In Kasenyi, the complete contracts for blocks 1 and 2 are not readily available to local communities. No active consultation mechanisms are visible on the ground. No dedicated local fund is operational.
A decision that will shape the future
The oil from Lake Albert could generate significant revenue for the DRC. But without:
- Contractual transparency
- Community consultation
- Rigorous environmental studies
- Clear profit-sharing mechanisms
It risks exacerbating inequalities and weakening a vital ecosystem. In Kasenyi, the lake continues to feed the population. Beneath its waters, the oil remains invisible. But the stakes are very real.
The question remains:
will the riverside communities be actors in their own future…
or mere spectators of wealth decided elsewhere?
By Cédric Muteya
This report was produced with the support of Environmental Defenders , as part of the
2025 Environmental Journalism Grants.
Originally published by Kilalo Press https://kilalopress.net/environnement/petrole-sous-le-lac-albert-a-kasenyi-entre-contrats-opaques-et-menaces-environnementales/