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| Appearance of East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline Project in Tanga, Tanzania . |
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda, Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa, has praised Tanzania for the remarkable progress achieved in the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project, a collaborative effort between Tanzania and Uganda.
During her working visit to Tanga on January 6, 2026, Dr. Nankabirwa, accompanied by a Ugandan delegation, visited the Chongoleani area where construction is ongoing. She expressed satisfaction with the project's implementation pace, highlighting its potential to drive significant economic changes, create jobs, and foster development for both nations and the broader East African region.
Dr. Nankabirwa emphasized the importance of ensuring a reliable electricity supply from the Ministries of Energy in both countries to maintain uninterrupted project activities. She also noted that the EACOP project ranks among the largest globally and in East Africa, instilling pride in citizens on both sides due to the commitment shown by the Presidents of Tanzania and Uganda.
Deputy Minister of Energy of Tanzania, Salome Makamba, acknowledged the dedication of President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, which has been crucial for the project's success. She highlighted the expected positive impacts on economic, social, employment, and community service sectors.
Makamba commended the EACOP Company for its substantial efforts and encouraged it to continue providing job opportunities and contracts for local companies and citizens of both Tanzania and Uganda, as outlined in the project's framework.
Current reports indicate that construction in Tanzania has reached 79% completion, with costs exceeding 5 billion dollars.
Before visiting the project site, the delegation from Uganda, led by the Minister, and the Tanzanian delegation, headed by the Deputy Minister of Energy, visited the Tanga Regional Commissioner’s Office. There, they engaged in discussions with Regional Commissioner Ambassador Dr. Batilda Buriani.
Dr. Buriani highlighted the significant benefits the Tanga Region has experienced from the project, particularly in job creation for youth in areas along the pipeline route, as well as improved access to social services such as water, electricity, and infrastructure.
She praised EACOP for its commitment to environmental conservation, biodiversity, and safety throughout the project’s implementation, ensuring benefits for both current and future generations.
The construction of the East African crude oil pipeline began in 2022 and is set for completion in July of this year. The project includes the establishment of two oil pressure reduction stations, six oil pressure boosting stations, and pipelines to transport oil from Uganda to the Port of Tanga.During this visit, the joint delegation toured the docking area for oil loading ships, the crude oil storage tanks, and the associated infrastructure.