The project, led by a consortium that includes ExxonMobil and Chevron, will consist of the development of oil wells in southern Chad and the construction of a pipeline from the oil fields through Cameroon to Cameroon's Atlantic coast. The controversial oil project has been strongly opposed by a coalition of environmental and human rights organizations concerned about the considerable risks associated with the project. Both Chad and Cameroon have long standing problems with corruption and human rights abuses, leading many to fear that the project will cause an increase in violence in the region, and that revenue from the project will fail to benefit the poor people of Chad and Cameroon. These fears were aggravated last month after reports from Chad stating that government forces were threatening men, women, and children with summary execution if they opposed the pipeline. In addition to concerns about corruption and human rights abuses, critics point out that the project will require the forced relocation of people living along the pipeline route, and will affect thousands of indigenous Bakola people that live in the region.
Many groups have grave concerns about environmental repercussions from the pipeline as well.
Any pollution or deforestation resulting from the pipeline would pose a particular threat to the Bakola, who are dependent on the health of local forests, wildlife, land, and water to maintain their traditional way of life. The pipeline will run through rainforest areas inhabited by endangered chimpanzees, gorillas, and forest elephants, and open up forest interiors to poachers and illegal logging. The project's oil fields are located in the heart of Chad's food producing region, where oil spills could have disastrous consequences. Despite the social and environmental risks associated with the project, the Bank's executive board voted overwhelmingly to fund it, with the exception of the director representing Italy who abstained from voting. The US voted for the project after pushing for strict enforcement of environmental and anticorruption measures, according to a US official.