KIKUUBE, March 4, 2025 –– The implementers of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline [EACOP] say the laying of the required infrastructure for the pipeline to transport oil from Lake Albert oilfields to the East African Coast, is progressing well.
EACOP runs 1,443 kilometres from Kabaale, Hoima district in Uganda to the Chongoleani Peninsula near Tanga Port in Tanzania. 80 percent of the pipeline is in Tanzania.
EACOP allows Uganda to unlock value from its own natural resources, and represents a significant inward investment of some US$ 4 billion across both Uganda and Tanzania, thus value creation is also extended to Tanzania.
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.
While not specifying the percentage, EACOP’s Deputy Managing Director, John Bosco Habumugisha, stated that they are currently in the midst of constructing key infrastructure for the project, including Pump Station One [PS1], Main Camp and Pipe Yard One [MCPY1].
He added that they have also begun clearing the right of way for the pipeline and welding in various locations.
He further noted that pipelines are being delivered to both Uganda and Tanzania, and construction at various sites is ongoing. “We are in the midst of construction, and this year is the peak construction year for EACOP, which is one of the major oil and gas infrastructures,” he said.
Habumugisha also highlighted the involvement of local companies in the implementation of the project, adding that 85 percent of the workforce on the project in Uganda are locals.
The EACOP project is being implemented by the governments of Uganda, through the national oil company [UNOC], and Tanzania, through the Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), as well as Total Energies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation [CNOOC], under the company EACOP Ltd.
EACOP Ltd has contracted China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. Ltd to undertake the construction works.
In Uganda, the pipeline stretches 296 km, traversing 10 districts and 25 sub-counties. In Tanzania, the pipeline will be 1,147 km long, passing through 8 regions and 25 districts, and the pipeline will transport 400,000 barrels of oil per day.
The Governments of Uganda and Tanzania will invest 30 percent of the total cost, while the oil companies [Total Energies and CNOOC] will contribute 70 percent. The construction period is expected to last three years.
Response to youth protests over EACOP project
In reaction to the youth protests against the EACOP project last year, Habumugisha stated that EACOP is one of the most environmentally compliant projects.
He explained that the project has been assessed at an international level, and they work closely with the National Environmental Management Authority [NEMA] and the Petroleum Authority of Uganda [PAU] to ensure full compliance with both local and international environmental standards.
“NEMA works with us, PAU works with us to ensure that everything we do complies with local and international standards, whether it is related to the environment or biodiversity. Every aspect of this project is thoroughly scrutinised. This is one of the most compliant projects in the country, and those speaking against it are people who have never visited the project sites. They do not understand how the project is being delivered,” he said.
In an effort to promote environmental conservation, the EACOP project has launched tree-planting campaigns in the ten affected districts.
Habumugisha confirmed that the tree planting will take place in Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Mubende, Gomba, Sembabule, Lwengo, Kyotera, and Rakai.
He added that the campaign, which involves planting an unspecified number of trees, has already commenced in Hoima and Rakai. In the Bunyoro region, EACOP is partnering with the Hoima Catholic Diocese to plant trees.
He acknowledged that the project would result in the destruction of many trees, which could negatively impact the environment. As a result, they decided to allocate funds for reforestation efforts.
He further noted that the tree-planting campaign, which is projected to cost Shs 1.2 billion, will focus on planting fruit and indigenous tree species.
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
Views: 0
-
-
-
-
