Nine trucks carrying pipes for the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) have arrived in Kyotera District, marking a major step forward for the pipeline project.
These coated pipes will soon be used to lay the 1,443-kilometer-long pipeline, which will transport oil from Uganda’s Albertine region to the Tanga port in Tanzania.
The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) celebrated the delivery as a key milestone.
The pipes were delivered by China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. Ltd, the contractor responsible for building the pipeline.
According to EACOP, the pipes will be stored in designated sites along the pipeline’s route before construction begins.
EACOP announced that construction will begin soon and remains on schedule.
The project will focus on safety, environmental protection, and engaging with local communities.
The pipeline, alongside other oil-related projects like the Tilenga and Kingfisher fields, is expected to boost Uganda’s and Tanzania’s economies by creating jobs, generating tax revenues, and improving infrastructure.
The arrival of these pipes, which are being coated and insulated at a plant in Tanzania, demonstrates progress toward completing the pipeline.
PAU’s Legal and Corporate Affairs Director, Ali Ssekatawa, described the delivery as a “major landmark” and stressed the project’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Ssekatawa assured that the project will use renewable energy where possible.
The Ugandan section of the pipeline will be fully powered by solar and hydro energy, making it carbon neutral.
There are also plans to develop similar renewable energy sources in Tanzania.
The $5 billion pipeline is being developed by EACOP, with Uganda and Tanzania holding 15% stakes each, while Total Energies owns 62%, and CNOOC Uganda Limited has an 8% share.
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