Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo Official Confirms Oil Pollution Findings

What the report says

Human Rights Watch says a Congolese government official has confirmed preliminary findings from a Ministry of Hydrocarbons audit that point to oil-related pollution linked to Perenco’s operations in western Democratic Republic of Congo. In an interview with HRW on July 31, the official said the audit found harmful effects on soil and air quality and indicated that wider pollution issues would be addressed in the final report.

The audit was commissioned in December 2024 after long-running allegations of environmental damage. According to the HRW report cited in the article, communities near Perenco facilities face risks from gas flaring, open burning of oil waste, and spills affecting soil and water sources. Perenco has denied that its activities cause such pollution or health harms.

The ministry official said the preliminary findings align with HRW’s conclusions and pointed to ageing infrastructure and pipelines as a factor in soil contamination. The final audit is expected by the end of September and is intended to recommend upgrades, estimate remediation costs, and set out steps to repair environmental damage. The ministry also said the report will be made public, which matters because transparency around extractive-industry pollution has been a persistent concern in Congo-Kinshasa. More broadly, environmental audits of oil operations are often used to determine responsibility and guide cleanup, though final accountability depends on the completed report and any follow-up action.