Tanzania is constructing two pressure reduction stations (PRS) as part of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project, a critical infrastructure undertaking that will safely channel crude oil from Hoima in Uganda to the Tanzanian port of Chongoleani in Tanga.
The two stations, which are designed to regulate the flow and pressure of the crude oil within the 1,443-kilometre pipeline, are being built in Kiteto District (Manyara Region) and Handeni District (Tanga Region).
The stations will help reduce the oil's velocity and protect the pipeline system from pressure-related damage.
Engineer Damian Lasway, a specialist overseeing the PRS-1 construction in Kibaya, Kiteto,that the facility has reached 50 percent completion. He noted that as oil travels over long distances from Uganda, its pressure increases, hence the need for intermediate regulation.
“This is a key safety measure. Without such stations, the high pressure would pose risks to the pipeline infrastructure. The PRS ensures the flow is controlled before continuing toward the port,” said Eng Lasway.
He explained that the PRS being built in Kibaya is the first of its kind in Tanzania. The second will be located in Sindeni Ward, Handeni District, Tanga.
Both facilities complement pumping stations also planned for Muleba, Mbogwe, Igunga, and Singida, with similar infrastructure underway in Uganda.
The $5 billion EACOP project is not only a milestone in regional energy cooperation but also a platform for skills development. Tanzanian professionals are already benefiting from working alongside international experts from various countries.
Rajab Rajab, a quality assurance officer at PRS-1, said the experience has transformed his capacity. “When I started on this project, I had limited knowledge of this scale of infrastructure. Today, I’m confident that if a similar project arises, I can contribute significantly. I urge the government to establish a national database to track skilled Tanzanians for future use,” he said.
Human Resources Officer Priscilla Baregu also highlighted the project’s deliberate effort to empower locals.
“We’ve already identified several unskilled workers and enrolled four of them in accredited training institutions. We cover all expenses to motivate them and ensure they gain practical qualifications even after the project ends,” she noted.
The EACOP pipeline, with its 24-inch diameter, will become the longest heated crude oil pipeline in the world once complete.
It will transport 216,000 barrels of oil per day from landlocked Uganda to the Tanzanian coast, creating thousands of jobs and business opportunities along the way.
Stakeholders say the success of the project will not only be measured in barrels exported but also in the long-term capacity built among local professionals and communities.
As Tanzania and Uganda advance this strategic collaboration, expectations are high that the project will set new standards in local content development, regional integration, and infrastructure excellence.
