The World Bank has decided that it will continue its support for a controversial project designed to bring oil wealth and development to Cameroon and Chad, two of the world's poorest countries. But on the ground in western Cameroon protests grow about the pipeline that will bring oil from Chad to the coast. Local people argue that the project has failed to bring the social benefits expected. The involvement of the bank, in the face of misgivings expressed by independent inspectors, has raised...read more
The World Bank has decided that it will continue its support for a controversial project designed to bring oil wealth and development to Cameroon and Chad, two of the world's poorest countries. But on the ground in western Cameroon protests grow about the pipeline that will bring oil from Chad to the coast. Local people argue that the project has failed to bring the social benefits expected. The involvement of the bank, in the face of misgivings expressed by independent inspectors, has raised expectations on issues such as compensation for environmental damage and terms of employment.
* Related link: The World Bank's own Inspection Panel has backed many of the complaints by non-governmental organizations about a major oil pipeline in West Africa. See http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/environment/e3004chadcam.html
