August 27th, 2024
Dear Luvano Ntuli,
Thank you for your letter dated August 1st, 2024 and for the opportunity to respond to the
questions you have raised regarding TotalEnergies' conduct and activities. Please find in Appendix 1
the responses to the questions raised in your query, which mostly concern TotalEnergies as a corporate
organization rather than operations of its affiliates in South Africa.
Also, we have taken note of your intent to publish a report in September 2024, and we would
appreciate the opportunity to review the final draft prior to its publication.
Our teams are available for further dialogue and willing to engage in discussions with Open
Secrets should you desire.
Sincerely,
Mariam Kane-Garcia
TotalEnergies Country Chair in South Africa
Appendix 1 – Answers to Open Secrets questions
Q1. In 2022, Greenpeace France, Amis de la Terre and Notre Affaire à Tous filed a request to obtain
an injunction and compensation against TotalEnergies, alleging that TotalEnergies had misled
French consumers with its “net zero by 2050” campaign and its pledge to become a major player in
the energy transition – tactics which are commonly referred to as “greenwashing”.
o Q1.1 How does TotalEnergies respond to these allegations?
o Q1.2 How has TotalEnergies addressed allegations of greenwashing in relation to their
environmental initiatives and sustainability claims?
As mentioned, please note that these queries are about TotalEnergies as a corporate organization
and that legal proceedings you are referring to are still ongoing. You may find information about
TotalEnergies’ net Zero strategy on TotalEnergies website as well as in the TotalEnergies
Sustainability & Climate 2024 Progress Report. You can also refer to the answers to written
questions published during the TotalEnergies SE Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting
of May 24, 2024 (https://totalenergies.com/sites/g/files/nytnzq121/files/documents/2024-
05/Totalenergies_AG2024-Reponses-aux-questions-ecrites_FR_PDF.pdf).
Q2. TotalEnergies has been accused of harassing and intimidating communities affected
by the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline project in Uganda and Tanzania.
o Q2.1. How does TotalEnergies respond to these allegations?
o Q2.2. What steps has TotalEnergies taken to address any intimidation?
TotalEnergies EP Uganda and EACOP are committed to respecting the rights of both
communities members and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in relation to the projects. TEPU
and EACOP strongly oppose any threats or attacks against communities members and HRDs
and seek to exercise their influence with relevant persons or authorities when, in the framework
of their activities, they are alerted of allegations of threats, intimidation, harassment or violence
against stakeholders.
For more information, please refer to TotalEnergies’ Universal Registration Document 2023.
Q3. TotalEnergies is facing litigation by the families of contractors killed in an attack by insurgents
in Mozambique in 2020. How does Total respond to the allegations that they failed in a legal duty
to protect these contractors?
Following the filing of a complaint against TotalEnergies for “manslaughter and a failure to assist
people in danger" during the terrorist attacks that took place in northern Mozambique in March 2021,
the Company published a Press Release on October 11th, 2023.
Q4. TotalEnergies also faces legal action initiated by attorneys representing individuals allegedly
detained and harshly treated Emirati military personnel at a TotalEnergies gas facility in Yemen.
How does Total respond to the allegations in this lawsuit?
In Yemen, which is in a state of civil war, the deterioration of security conditions in the vicinity of the
Balhaf site caused Yemen LNG, in which TotalEnergies SE holds an indirect interest of 39.62%, to stop
its commercial production and export of LNG and to declare force majeure to its various stakeholders
in 2015. The plant has been put in preservation mode.
In relation to your query, please refer to public answer given by TotalEnergies (formerly Total) to
BHRRC in 2020, available on their website.
Q5. Why has TotalEnergies chosen to divest from its investment in several offshore oil and gas sites
in South Africa, including blocks 11B/12B and 5/6/7?
Please refer to the Press Release published by TotalEnergies on July 29th, 2024.
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