Oil well at Perenco’s concession in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Pollution linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s only oil producer poses serious health risks to communities near its operations. Perenco, the oil company, has engaged in gas flaring and waste burning that have contributed to poor air quality and not prevented oil spills from wells and pipelines from leaking into the soil and riverbeds, contributing to health risks for nearby residents.The authorities should acknowledge the threat to people’s health in oil concession areas, immediately report on pollution levels, and act to reduce population exposure.
(Kinshasa) – Pollution linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s only oil producer poses serious health risks to communities near its operations, Human Rights Watch said today.
The Congolese government commissioned an environmental audit of the French-British oil and gas company Perenco’s operations in December 2024 because of longstanding reports of pollution. However, it has not provided a timeline for the publication of the final audit report, published any interim findings, or publicly disclosed vital information about air, soil, and water quality.
“The Congolese government should immediately publish the interim findings of the environmental audit of Perenco’s concession and disclose all environmental monitoring data,” said Agathe Bounfour, senior fossil fuel researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Residents of nearby communities have a right to know the extent of pollution in their environment and the risks to their health.”
In January 2026, a team of Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed 45 local residents, oil workers, health professionals, government officials, and environmental and public health experts in Muanda, where the operations are based, and in Kinshasa, the capital. Human Rights Watch also analyzed satellite imagery
