In the fishing town of Vitshumbi, two hours boat ride from Lunyasenge, residents said they had heard just enough of SOCO’s plans to be worried. In a succession of interviews people said they feared the lake would be polluted and their livelihoods destroyed.
They laughed at the idea that oil might bring local jobs.
“We have no education, no skills, what job can there be for us?” asked one young man. They feared, based on bitter experience, that Congo’s endemic corruption would stymie any hope of development.
“We fishermen do not agree with this oil exploration because it will cause pollution. And when the water gets spoiled the fish will also die,” said Francois Kasereka who started fishing Lake Edward in 1960 when he was 13-years old.
“For us: no fish, no life.”
Source Global Post: Tristan McConnell – In Congo: oil, guns and power (IN-DEPTH SERIES)
Photos Courtesy of Norbert@lenz.be
SAVE VIRUNGA 
In response to this posting, SOCO International plc would like to reaffirm that it is committed to maintaining a dialogue with the stakeholders who have an interest in our operations in Block V, and particularly with those stakeholders who currently reside in the Virunga National Park around Lake Edward.
To this purpose, SOCO has carried out an engagement programme of visiting local communities on and near the shores of Lake Edward to better understand the needs and concerns of the local communities resident there, as well as to correct inaccuracies and to describe and explain our potential operations in the area. SOCO held over 10 villager meetings in 2012, and found the response to be very positive to this engagement and the feedback has been that the vast majority welcome us as a potential catalyst for positive change. We were accompanied on these visits by the Congolese Wildlife Authority (also known as ICCN) in their capacity as independent monitors of SOCO’s activities within the Virunga National Park.
Moreover, SOCO is committed to conducting our business activities in an honest and ethical manner, to protecting the rights of indigenous people and to ensuring that the health and safety of people and the protection of the environment remains a business priority. Our goal is to be a positive presence wherever we have operations, whereby we build sustainable value for the host countries and local communities, as well as for our own shareholders. SOCO has an exemplary track record of carrying out social projects in other parts of the DRC.
Finally, it is important to note that SOCO is still conducting a Block Evaluation which is the very preliminary phase of exploration involving the gathering of magnetic and gravity data (this is done by conducting an aerial survey, potentially followed by a seismic study). We are still several years away from concluding these precursory scientific studies and it is emphasized that at this stage, no drilling has been planned or is even warranted. The aerial survey is the only exploration activity planned at this time, and was given approval to proceed by the DRC Government within the context of its Strategic Environment Evaluation of the Virunga National Park.
In response to this posting, SOCO International plc would like to reaffirm that it is committed to maintaining a dialogue with the stakeholders who have an interest in our operations in Block V, and particularly with those stakeholders who currently reside in the Virunga National Park around Lake Edward.
To this purpose, SOCO has carried out an engagement programme of visiting local communities on and near the shores of Lake Edward to better understand the needs and concerns of the local communities resident there, as well as to correct inaccuracies and to describe and explain our potential operations in the area. SOCO held over 10 villager meetings in 2012, and found the response to be very positive to this engagement and the feedback has been that the vast majority welcome us as a potential catalyst for positive change. We were accompanied on these visits by the Congolese Wildlife Authority (also known as ICCN) in their capacity as independent monitors of SOCO’s activities within the Virunga National Park.
Moreover, SOCO is committed to conducting our business activities in an honest and ethical manner, to protecting the rights of indigenous people and to ensuring that the health and safety of people and the protection of the environment remains a business priority. Our goal is to be a positive presence wherever we have operations, whereby we build sustainable value for the host countries and local communities, as well as for our own shareholders. SOCO has an exemplary track record of carrying out social projects in other parts of the DRC.
Finally, it is important to note that SOCO is still conducting a Block Evaluation which is the very preliminary phase of exploration involving the gathering of magnetic and gravity data (this is done by conducting an aerial survey, potentially followed by a seismic study). We are still several years away from concluding these precursory scientific studies and it is emphasized that at this stage, no drilling has been planned or is even warranted. The aerial survey is the only exploration activity planned at this time, and was given approval to proceed by the DRC Government within the context of its Strategic Environment Evaluation of the Virunga National Park.