Legislative scrutiny rises over water research and refinery investments

In the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has expressed opposition to the Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program (TAAP) Act, Senate Bill S. 4846. While the bill, introduced by Senators Mark Kelly and John Cornyn, seeks to reauthorize and fund joint scientific research on shared water resources between the U.S. and Mexico, the Department of the Interior stated it does not support the measure. USGS officials noted that the expansion of the program to include additional priority aquifers in Arizona would add research tasks that conflict with the agency’s current focus on higher priority operational responsibilities.

In Kenya, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has called on the Senate Energy Committee to demand transparency regarding the proposed Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Lamu. Following the groundbreaking of the project by President William Ruto and Aliko Dangote, Sifuna requested the disclosure of records concerning the project’s financing, land arrangements, environmental impact, and public participation. The request comes amid discussions regarding Kenya’s potential 10 percent stake in the refinery, valued at approximately $500 million, and ongoing legal disputes regarding ancestral land rights.