2019 Theses Master's

Resource-extraction, urban infrastructure, and resilient planning: Addressing the impact of the LNG industry in Soyo, Angola

Claramunt Torche, Pauline

In many resource-rich countries, a common ground is the interplay of lack of infrastructure and high social inequalities that are critical for climate vulnerability. This thesis intersects frameworks of resilience and sustainability to study the impact of urban development that comes along with oil and gas industry investment in infrastructure and social responsibility.

This research discusses the impact and spatial implications of oil and gas industry involvement in the city of Soyo located in Angola, which is the second largest hydrocarbon exporter country in South Saharan Africa. The study incorporates mixed methodologies including qualitative analysis, mapping, and spatial analysis. It starts by analyzing and mapping the gas-industrial landscape of Soyo to visualize the industrial plant and ancillary infrastructures that shape the city (roads, airports, etc.) Next, it includes a land cover analysis to describe and quantify the urban expansion between 2002 and 2017. And finally, it includes a qualitative analysis based on interviews with local stakeholders such as urban planners, professionals from gas industries, academics, and nonprofit organization leaders. Findings discuss the positive and negative impacts of the LNG industry in Soyo through the lens of equity.

The study concludes by providing recommendations about mobility-related infrastructure, housing accommodations, and spatial implications of gas-founded infrastructure. Using the case of Soyo the study informs policymakers, urban planners, and public officials of relevant issues to consider when regulating and incentivizing sustainable and resilient planning in coastal resource-extraction cities.