Tanzania and Uganda have reached a historic milestone in regional energy cooperation as construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) advances steadily, with works on the Tanzanian side now 79 percent complete.
Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr Ruth Nankabirwa, has praised Tanzania for the strong pace of implementation, saying the progress demonstrates effective coordination and firm political commitment between the two countries.
She made the remarks during a working visit to Tanga, where she toured the Chongoleani project area accompanied by an official delegation from Uganda.
Dr Nankabirwa said she was satisfied with the speed and quality of construction, noting that the multi-billion-dollar project is expected to bring significant economic transformation, employment opportunities and improved social services for both countries and the wider East African region.
She called on the energy ministries of Tanzania and Uganda to ensure reliable electricity supply to prevent delays during the remaining phase of implementation.
She described EACOP as one of the largest strategic infrastructure projects in Africa, adding that citizens of both countries have reason to be proud of the achievements recorded so far, guided by the shared vision of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Energy, Ms Salome Makamba, said the strong commitment and close cooperation between the two leaders have been central to the project’s progress.
She said EACOP is expected to generate wide-ranging benefits, including economic growth, job creation, skills transfer and improved community services along the pipeline route.
Ms Makamba commended the EACOP Company for the work underway and urged it to continue prioritising local content by offering employment and procurement opportunities to Tanzanian and Ugandan citizens and companies, in line with project agreements.
According to official implementation updates, construction on the Tanzanian section of the pipeline has reached 79 percent completion, with the overall project valued at more than $5 billion.
Before visiting the project site, the Ugandan delegation and the Tanzanian team, led by the Deputy Minister for Energy, paid a courtesy visit to the Tanga Regional Commissioner, Ambassador Dr Batilda Buriani.
She said the region has already benefited from the project through employment opportunities for local youth and improvements in social infrastructure, including water, electricity and access roads.
Dr Buriani also praised the EACOP project for maintaining high standards of environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and safety throughout implementation, emphasising the importance of protecting both present and future generations.
Construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline began in 2022 and is expected to be completed in July this year. The project includes two pressure reduction stations, six pumping stations and a pipeline system transporting crude oil from Uganda to the Port of Tanga.
During the visit, the delegations also toured the marine jetty for oil loading, crude oil storage tanks and associated infrastructure, underlining the project’s strategic role in strengthening regional energy security and economic integration.