The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) — the 1,443-kilometre pipeline linking Uganda’s oil fields to Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast — has entered its final stages of construction, with the Tanzanian government declaring satisfaction with progress on the ground and two of four oil storage tanks at the Chongoleani marine terminal already undergoing water-fill testing.
Tanzania’s Commissioner for Electricity and Renewable Energy, Engineer Innocent Luoga, led a one-day inspection visit to the Chongoleani area in Tanga Region, where project engineers confirmed the marine tank terminal has reached 94 per cent completion. Two of the four tanks have been fully completed and are being tested by filling them with water, with results showing high strength and quality standards that will allow them to safely receive crude oil.
“We have witnessed tremendous work being carried out here. This is not just a pipeline project, but an economic lifeline that will create business opportunities, jobs and new technologies for our youth,” said Eng Luoga, who expressed confidence that work will be completed within the scheduled timeframe.
The project has already created more than 9,000 direct and indirect jobs for Tanzanians and has expanded infrastructure at vocational training institutions while providing scholarships for students in Bachelor’s, Master’s, and practical training programmes at various colleges and universities.
EACOP’s Local Content Supervisor, Neema Kweka, confirmed the project continues to implement its contractual local content commitments. The pipeline passes through eight regions of mainland Tanzania — Kagera, Geita, Shinyanga, Tabora, Singida, Dodoma, Manyara and Tanga — before reaching the coast. The project is owned by TotalEnergies (62%), Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation and Uganda National Oil Company (15% each), and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (8%).
Source: allafrica.com