French supermajor Total has admitted it has learned lessons on handling environmental and social issues of its proposed $16 billion Lake Albert oil project in Uganda, vowing it will be “transparent” about decisions taken on biodiversity protection and the relocation of local people.

The project — which would involve oil from the Tilenga and Kingfisher assets in Uganda being pumped to Tanga port in Tanzania via a 1443-kilometres heated pipeline — is heading towards a final investment decision later this year, with first oil targeted for 2024.