’We are demanding that these companies immediately announce that they will not underwrite any of the new fossil projects and infrastructure,’ says spokesperson

Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil have targeted multiple insurance offices in Manchester as part of a protest.

The protesters targeted AIG, Hiscox, Markel, Travelers, Chubb, Liberty Mutual and Tokio Marine in the early hours of Wednesday.

Their offices were plastered with posters urging them not to insure the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop) and West Cumbria coal mine.

QBE Insurance’s Manchester office was also targeted as they have not ruled out insuring the West Cumbria mine, according to the protesters.

Bee Pooley, a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion South Lakes, said: “We are demanding that these companies immediately announce that they will not underwrite any of the new fossil projects and infrastructure, including Eacop and the West Cumbria coal mine.”

The projects

Eacop is a pipeline that is set to transport oil produced from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.

The official Eacop website states that the new corridor linking the two countries ”will bring benefits, including the development of new infrastructure, logistics, technology transfer as well as improving the livelihoods of communities along the route”.

Meanwhile, the Woodhouse Colliery scheme, which is operated by West Cumbria Mining, was signed off by the government back in December 2022.

Hiscox 1

Credit: Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil

In a statement when the application was granted, West Cumbria Mining said it would deliver the “world’s first net zero mine supplying the critical steel industry with a high-quality metallurgical coal product”.

However, Pooley said such projects could “destroy our fading chances of a climate-safe future” and that no insurance meant they would have to stop.

“We appeal to the bosses of these companies to do the right thing and pull the plug on oil, gas and coal,” he added.