By Frank Kamuntu
Another milestone in the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has been reached with the first delivery of nine trucks loaded with coated line pipes at Main Camp and Pipe Yard (MCPY) 4 in Kyotera District, Uganda.
The coated line pipes will be transported to designated storage sites and laid along the 1,443-kilometer heat-traced crude oil pipeline. The EACOP will transport Uganda’s crude oil from the Hoima Terminal in Uganda to Tanga Port in Tanzania, where it will be exported to international markets. To date, the project has received 800 kilometres of line pipes, which are currently undergoing coating and insulation at the Nzega Coating Yard in Tanzania.
Mr. Ali Ssekatawa, the Director Legal and Corporate Affairs at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, highlighted the significance of this development, stating that the arrival of the pipes marks a key milestone in the construction of the EACOP.
“This is a major landmark in the construction of the EACOP and a clear sign of the progress of the project. Government and its partners are committed to ensuring that all developments are completed in the most environmentally responsible and sustainable manner. Civil works have already advanced on the pumping stations, main camps and pipe yards, and storage facilities along the EACOP route as well as the coating plant in Nzega that is now in operation,” Ssekatawa said.
Ssekatawa emphasised, “We recognize the importance of mitigating climate change, which is why the project will prioritise the use of renewable energy wherever possible for all pumping, heating, monitoring, and storage operations.” He further noted that the Ugandan section will be fully carbon neutral, powered entirely by 80MW of solar and hydro energy, while efforts are underway to develop similar renewable capacity on the Tanzanian side.
The EACOP is a thermally insulated 24-inch pipeline that will be supported by six pumping stations—two located in Uganda and four in Tanzania. Construction of the Main Camps and Pipe Yards is advancing in both countries. The project, estimated to cost $5 billion, is being developed by the EACOP Company, with Uganda and Tanzania each holding a 15% stake, while TotalEnergies holds 62%, and CNOOC Uganda Limited owns 8%.
