East African Crude Oil Pipeline Reaches Major 60% Completion Milestone, Creating 6,000 Jobs
The ambitious 1,443-kilometer East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has achieved a significant milestone, reaching 60% completion while generating 6,000 employment opportunities across the region, officials announced following a high-level inspection in Tanzania’s Tanga Region.
This mega-project, designed to transport oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to Tanzania’s Port of Tanga, represents one of Africa’s most ambitious energy infrastructure undertakings, with a peak capacity of 246,000 barrels per day.
The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) Board of Directors conducted a comprehensive inspection at Chongoleani, where Chairman Engineer Ngosi Mwihava expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress and emphasized EWURA’s crucial oversight role in ensuring Tanzanians benefit from the opportunities created.
EACOP’s Human Resources and Corporate Affairs Director, Godfrey Mponda, revealed that 70% of the 6,000 employed workers are local residents from communities near the project area, demonstrating significant improvement in regional participation.
Tanga Regional Commissioner Dr. Batilda Burian highlighted the project’s positive impact on local suppliers, with more businesses registering in EWURA’s supplier database to capitalize on the opportunities.
The project’s impressive shareholding structure includes TotalEnergies (62%), Uganda National Oil Company and Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (15% each), and CNOOC (8%). With a capital investment of approximately $4 billion, this represents one of the largest inward investments ever made in Uganda and Tanzania.
Beyond oil transport, the pipeline promises to enhance the central corridor between the two nations, spurring development of improved road infrastructure, better logistics, and modern communication through fiber-optic cable deployment.
Source: dailynews.co.tz