Badila produced-water spill into the Nya Pendé river (2018) and the UK National Contact Point's Glencore statement
- RAID states that 85 million litres of wastewater flooded farmland and entered my river; the UK National Contact Point gives no volume and states the extent of the contamination of my water is unknown. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- The operator tested my water daily against standards for sanitary sewage; the NCP's expert said the oil and gas discharge criteria were the relevant ones and only 3 of their 8 components were tested. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- The complainants state that livestock and fish died; the NCP stated it cannot be concluded that the produced water would impact livestock, and that it is too late to determine the cause of the health impacts. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- At least 50 people were injured.Reported by the complainants; the NCP stated the cause cannot now be determined.
- Company or project Glencore UK Ltd (respondent): Heavy rainfall brought the basin close to capacity; residents and the government refused a controlled release. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- Government and regulators UK NCP and its expert: The berm should not have collapsed in the first instance; the expert found a design fault in the wetland and end-basin system, and there was no explanation of how the system got to the point where release was the only option. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- Communities and civil society AJTZP, RAID and PILC: At least 50 of 106 residents interviewed reported injuries, and livestock and fish died. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- Company or project Glencore UK Ltd (respondent): Categorically refutes health impacts from the spill. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- Government and regulators UK NCP: The expert said the injuries were unlikely given the hydrocarbon results and other causes could not be excluded; it is now too late to determine the cause. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- Communities and civil society Residents: A crude oil leak occurred. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- Company or project Glencore UK Ltd (respondent): Contests the allegation. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- Government and regulators UK NCP's expert: Found no conclusive evidence of a leak. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- Communities and civil society RAID: 85 million litres of wastewater. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre / RAID
- Government and regulators UK NCP: Gives no volume; the extent of contamination is unknown. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
The earth bank of a produced-water basin at the Badila oilfield in southern Chad collapsed in September 2018 and released water into the Nya Pendé river. In November 2024 the UK National Contact Point found that Glencore UK Ltd did not comply with two OECD Guidelines due-diligence provisions and did not find it directly responsible for the spill.
Figure from RAID. The UK National Contact Point gives no volume and states the extent of contamination is unknown.
Status As of the Final Statement of 21 November 2024: the NCP follow-up date is given as July 2025 and as 21 November 2025; the complainants state no compensation has been paid.
- Glencore plc — Sold PetroChad (Mangara) to Perenco in June 2022 UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- Residents of the Nya Pendé area — Farmland flooded; the complainants state no compensation has been paid RAID
- Nya Pendé river and farmland — Flooded with produced water; RAID states 85 million litres; the NCP gives no volume Business & Human Rights Resource Centre / RAID
- Residents, livestock and fish — At least 50 of 106 residents interviewed reported injuries and livestock and fish died, according to the complainants; the NCP stated the cause cannot now be determined UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
What happened
On 10 September 2018 the earth bank (berm) of a produced-water basin at the Badila oilfield, operated by PetroChad (Mangara) (PCM) in the Doba basin of Logone Oriental, southern Chad, collapsed and water was released into the Nya Pendé river. Around 26 September 2018 residents alleged a crude oil leak from a feeder pipeline. The respondent, Glencore UK Ltd, attributed the collapse to heavy rainfall that brought the basin close to capacity and said PCM had asked residents and the government for a controlled release, which both refused. RAID stated that 85 million litres of wastewater flooded farmland and entered the river.
The UK National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD Guidelines stated that the berm should not have collapsed in the first instance and that there was no explanation of how the system got to the point where release was the only option. Its expert found a design fault in the wetland and end-basin system. The NCP also recorded that PCM tested daily against IFC indicative values for sanitary sewage, which its expert said was the wrong standard: the IFC Onshore Oil and Gas discharge criteria are more relevant, and only 3 of their 8 components were tested. PCM's test results were not provided to the NCP.
The complainants said at least 50 of 106 residents interviewed reported injuries and that livestock and fish died. Glencore said that of the complaints received about the water release, none related to injuries, and told the NCP it "categorically refutes" health impacts. The NCP's expert said the injuries were unlikely given the hydrocarbon results and that other causes could not be excluded; the NCP said it was too late to determine the cause of the health impacts.
AJTZP, RAID and PILC filed the complaint with the NCP on 10 September 2020, on behalf of about 18,000 residents. The NCP accepted the 2018 spill and the alleged leak in its Initial Assessment of 22 January 2021; the respondent declined mediation in March 2022. Glencore plc sold PCM to Perenco in June 2022. The Final Statement of 21 November 2024 found that Glencore UK Ltd did not comply with two OECD Guidelines provisions on due diligence, did not find it directly responsible for the spill, and made four recommendations; no remedy for Badila was recommended. The complainants state that no compensation has been paid.
Separately, Glencore was Chad's main commercial creditor. Reuters reported in 2014 that Glencore and banks lent Chad's state oil firm about US$1.45 billion, repayable in crude oil cargoes, a debt that "has absorbed nearly all of Chad's oil profits". A February 2018 deal extended maturity and gave a two-year grace period on principal, after which the IMF disbursed about US$51 million.
- 2014Glencore and banks lend Chad's state oil firm about US$1.45 billion, repayable in crude oil cargoes
- 2018Berm of a produced-water basin collapses and water enters the Nya Pendé (10 Sep); alleged crude leak from a feeder pipeline (about 26 Sep); Glencore receives a single verbal report (13 Oct)
- 2020RAID publishes its report (16 Mar); AJTZP, RAID and PILC file the complaint with the UK NCP (10 Sep)
- 2021NCP Initial Assessment accepts the 2018 spill and the alleged leak (22 Jan)
- 2022Respondent declines mediation (March); Glencore plc sells PCM to Perenco (June); NCP expert opinion received (1 Nov)
- 2024NCP Final Statement published (21 Nov)
What was said
“the UK NCP does not find the Respondent directly responsible for the spill”
“it is now too late to determine the cause of these health impacts”
“Of the complaints received relating to the water release, none related to injuries.”
“Glencore UK should own up to its actions and provide full compensation to those affected.”
“it is troubling that the company is not being held accountable for remedying the damage caused.”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Heavy rainfall brought the basin close to capacity; residents and the government refused a controlled release.
UK National Contact Point for the OECD GuidelinesThe berm should not have collapsed in the first instance; the expert found a design fault in the wetland and end-basin system, and there was no explanation of how the system got to the point where release was the only option.
UK National Contact Point for the OECD GuidelinesAt least 50 of 106 residents interviewed reported injuries, and livestock and fish died.
UK National Contact Point for the OECD GuidelinesCategorically refutes health impacts from the spill.
UK National Contact Point for the OECD GuidelinesThe expert said the injuries were unlikely given the hydrocarbon results and other causes could not be excluded; it is now too late to determine the cause.
UK National Contact Point for the OECD GuidelinesA crude oil leak occurred.
UK National Contact Point for the OECD GuidelinesContests the allegation.
UK National Contact Point for the OECD GuidelinesFound no conclusive evidence of a leak.
UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines85 million litres of wastewater.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre / RAIDGives no volume; the extent of contamination is unknown.
UK National Contact Point for the OECD GuidelinesHow it looked
Shown
- Glencore (respondent before the NCP): heavy rainfall brought the basin close to capacity; PCM had asked residents and the government for a controlled release and both refused.
- Glencore (respondent before the NCP): it "categorically refutes" health impacts from the spill.
- RAID (November 2024): the UK government found Glencore UK breached the OECD Guidelines over the Chad spill.
- AJTZP (November 2024): "The NCP's recommendations are insufficient."
Recorded
- The NCP found Glencore UK Ltd did not comply with Chapter II para A10 (risk-based due diligence) and Chapter IV para 5 (human rights due diligence) of the OECD Guidelines, and complied with the other provisions examined because it did not directly contribute to the impacts.
- No remedy for Badila was recommended.
- The NCP's expert found a design fault in the wetland and end-basin system, and that only 3 of the 8 components of the relevant discharge criteria were tested.
- The NCP is a non-judicial mechanism and states it has no power to require any party to provide information to it.
- The Final Statement gives July 2025 for follow-up in its recommendations and 21 November 2025 in Annex 1.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- glencore (Before the NCP, 2020–2024): Categorically refutes health impacts from the spill; attributes the berm collapse to heavy rainfall; says PCM asked residents and the government for a controlled release and both refused; says the flood damage to farmland was remediated and a grievance register provided. · UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
- glencore (2018–2020, as given in RAID's 2020 report): Of the complaints received relating to the water release, none related to injuries, so it did not investigate any complaints of this nature. · Business & Human Rights Resource Centre / RAID
- chad-government (2018): The NCP records only that the government refused a controlled release and commissioned the Ecofilae report. · UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2020–2024Outcome not on recordAJTZP, RAID and PILC complaint about Glencore UK Ltd under the OECD GuidelinesUK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines (Department for Business and Trade) · International court · AJTZP, RAID and PILC → Glencore UK Ltd
Final Statement of 21 November 2024. Not complied with: Chapter II para A10 (risk-based due diligence) and Chapter IV para 5 (human rights due diligence). Complied with: Chapter II paras A1, 2, 6 and 14; Chapter III paras 1–4; Chapter VI paras 2a, 2b, 3, 4 and 5, because the respondent did not directly contribute to the impacts. The NCP stated it does not find the respondent directly responsible for the spill, made four recommendations on due diligence and grievance access, and recommended no remedy for Badila. The NCP is a non-judicial mechanism with no power to require any party to provide information to it. UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
Money
- None on record Compensation or remedy for the spill — The NCP Final Statement gives no amounts or number of people compensated; the complainants state none has been paid.
Court
- Unclear AJTZP, RAID and PILC complaint about Glencore UK Ltd under the OECD Guidelines: outcome not on record.
Record
- Not measured Not measured: the extent of water contamination and the volume of water released (UK NCP Final Statement).
- Insufficient Insufficient: the NCP did not establish how long the water took to drain, the cause of the reported health impacts, any effect on livestock, or any crude oil leak around 26 September 2018.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: PCM's water test results were not provided to the NCP, and the respondent shared no evidence of due diligence on PCM.
- None on record None on record: compensation amounts or the number of people compensated in the NCP Final Statement; the complainants state no compensation or remedy has been provided.
- Disputed Disputed: the cause of the collapse, the health and livestock impacts, the alleged crude leak and the volume released (see disputes).
- None on record None on record: a Chadian court case, fine or sanction over the 2018 spill; the NCP statement mentions none.
- None on record None on record: insurance relating to the spill.
- Unclear Unclear: the date of follow-up; the Final Statement gives July 2025 in its recommendations and 21 November 2025 in Annex 1.
Did the harm stop?
None on record. The berm collapse and water release were reported on 10 September 2018; the NCP did not establish how long the water took to drain.
Who paid?
The complainants state no compensation or remedy has been provided; the NCP Final Statement gives no amounts and recommended no remedy for Badila.
Sources
Government and regulators
- Final statement: AJTZP, RAID, PILC complaint to the UK NCP about Glencore UK LtdUK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines · 2024-11-21
Press and investigations
- IMF resumes lending to Chad following Glencore debt deal (Reuters)Africanews · 2018-04-15
Communities and civil society
- Glencore's oil operations in Chad: local residents injured and ignoredBusiness & Human Rights Resource Centre / RAID · 2020-03-16
International bodies
- World Bank urges private creditors to deliver on their commitment to debt relief for ChadWorld Bank · 2021-09-28
- Press Release No. 22/379: IMF Managing Director welcomes debt treatment for ChadInternational Monetary Fund · 2022-11-13
Connected cases
- Chad–Cameroon pipeline and Doba oil fields: World Bank conditions, revenue law, Inspection Panel and 2023 nationalisation Chad · 1999–2026 Related matter
- Government of Chad (Government) — here: Refused a controlled release; commissioned the Ecofilae report; there: Host government; nationalised the assets in 2023
- CNPC crude dumping in the Bongor basin: US$1.2 billion fine and US$400 million settlement Chad · 2013–2015 Related matter
- Government of Chad (Government) — here: Refused a controlled release; commissioned the Ecofilae report; there: Suspended operations, imposed the fine, withdrew permits, signed the settlement
- Chad ends African Parks' management of Zakouma and Ennedi parks Chad · 2025
- Government of Chad (Government) — here: Refused a controlled release; commissioned the Ecofilae report; there: Government that revoked the authority and signed the 2026 agreements
- Eskom advances tied to Tegeta coal mine purchase, South African inquiry finds South Africa · 2015–2016
- Glencore (Company) — here: Owner of the operator until June 2022; respondent (Glencore UK Ltd); there: Seller of the Optimum coal mine
- Glencore settles bribery and market manipulation charges in US, UK, Brazil Multiple countries · 2007–2022
- Glencore (Company) — here: Owner of the operator until June 2022; respondent (Glencore UK Ltd); there: Admitted bribery and market manipulation charges (2022)
- Pilbara Minerals' profit fell sharply as lithium prices slumped; Li-Cycle went bankrupt Australia · 2024–2025
- Glencore (Company) — here: Owner of the operator until June 2022; respondent (Glencore UK Ltd); there: acquirer of Li-Cycle assets
- Smelter emissions in Kazakhstan: fines and investment pledges at Kazzinc, Kazakhmys and ERG Kazakhstan · 2020–2026
- Glencore (Company) — here: Owner of the operator until June 2022; respondent (Glencore UK Ltd); there: Holds 69.61% of Kazzinc
- The Metals Company deep-sea nodule mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (NOAA permit route) International waters (Pacific Ocean) · 2011
- Glencore (Company) — here: Owner of the operator until June 2022; respondent (Glencore UK Ltd); there: Holder of a right to half of NORI-area nickel and copper