On Monday, Uganda welcomed the first shipment of coated line pipes for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), delivered to the primary camp and pipe yard located in Kyotera District. This milestone indicates the developers’ commitment to expedite the construction and installation of the cross-border pipeline connecting Uganda and Tanzania.

China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. Ltd (CPP), the contractor responsible for EACOP’s construction, received nine truckloads of insulated line pipes from the coating facility in Nzega, Tabora Region, Tanzania.

With these pipes now in Uganda, CPP is set to commence the laying of the pipeline as the developers aim to export the initial barrels of crude oil by the end of next year, according to a statement from EACOP Ltd.

“The project is on track to meet its construction and operational deadlines, with a strong emphasis on safety, environmental sustainability, and community engagement,” the statement highlighted.

Ali Ssekatawa, the Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), remarked, “This is a significant milestone in the construction of EACOP and a clear indication of the project’s progress. The government and its partners are dedicated to ensuring that all developments are carried out in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.”

He noted that civil works have progressed on the pumping stations, main camps, pipe yards, and storage facilities along the 1,443-kilometer pipeline, which will connect the oil fields in Uganda’s Albertine Basin to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.

So far, the project has received 800 kilometers of line pipes, which are currently undergoing coating and insulation at the Nzega Coating Yard.

To address climate change concerns, the project plans to utilize renewable energy for all pumping, heating, monitoring, and storage operations. The 296-kilometer section in Uganda is set to be fully carbon neutral, powered entirely by 80 MW of solar and hydroelectric energy, with similar renewable energy initiatives being developed on the Tanzanian side.

The EACOP project, estimated to cost around $5 billion, is being developed by EACOP Company, with Uganda and Tanzania each holding a 15 percent stake. French energy giant TotalEnergies holds a 62 percent share, while the China National Offshore Oil Corporation Uganda Limited owns 8 percent.