Uganda and Tanzania are preparing to ship their first barrels of crude oil through the $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) as early as October, a milestone that could reshape energy trade across the region.
According to Business Insider Africa, officials from both countries say the exports will mark a pivotal moment for Uganda’s long-delayed petroleum sector and East Africa’s entry into global oil markets.
The EACOP, which stretches 1,443 kilometres from Uganda’s Albertine Graben to the Indian Ocean port of Tanga in Tanzania, was about 75% complete by the end of December 2025, according to officials from Uganda and Tanzania.
This aligns with earlier figures from Uganda’s Petroleum Authority, which reported that nearly three-quarters of the project had been finished by November, with all pipeline segments already laid and $3.3 billion invested.
Ernest Rubondo, chief executive of the Uganda Petroleum Authority, described EACOP as “the backbone of Uganda’s crude oil exports and a key driver for economic transformation,” highlighting its importance to the country’s long-term energy strategy.
Construction is now entering its final phase. Energy ministers from both countries reaffirmed their commitment to the project during a high-level stakeholder meeting in Dar es Salaam on January 5, where they reviewed progress on pipeline construction, above-ground installations, and the marine export terminal at Tanga.
Officials said construction activities are currently at peak levels, with start-up readiness targeted for July 31, 2026.
Uganda’s delegation was led by Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa, along with officials from the Uganda National Oil Company and the National Petroleum Council.
Tanzania’s Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi led his country’s delegation, which included representatives from the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation and energy regulator Ewura.
Don’t Miss This:
Uganda Plans To Borrow $608 Mln For Infrastructure Development
Once operational, EACOP will be the world’s longest heated crude oil pipeline, designed to transport Uganda’s waxy crude at around 50 degrees Celsius. At full capacity, the pipeline is expected to carry up to 230,000 barrels of oil per day to Tanga, where it will be loaded onto tankers for export.
For Uganda, the pipeline is crucial to unlocking its estimated 6.5 billion barrels of crude reserves and establishing itself as a new oil producer in Africa.
The project’s success will depend on global oil prices and the timely completion of related upstream infrastructure.
The pipeline’s benefits extend beyond Uganda. For Tanzania, EACOP is becoming an economic and logistical lifeline. Authorities report that the project has already generated roughly 50 billion Tanzanian shillings ($19.5 million) in revenue through development levies, taxes, and construction-related charges.
Tanzania’s EACOP project coordinator, Asiadi Mrutu, said the project has employed about 1,200 Tanzanians, including workers from communities around the Chongoleani terminal in Tanga, reinforcing Tanzania’s role as a regional energy transit hub.
Despite ongoing criticism from environmental and human rights groups, Ugandan and Tanzanian officials maintain that EACOP reflects a strategic push for infrastructure-led growth and regional integration.
They note that developers, including TotalEnergies and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC), have incorporated measures to manage emissions, including plans to power most of the pipeline’s operations with solar energy.
For East Africa, the EACOP project is expected to boost economic growth, create jobs, strengthen regional trade, and address both energy and environmental challenges.
Don’t Miss This:
Tanzania Launches $420 Million Synthetic Fuel Project To Rival Dangote In Africa’s Jet Fuel Market
Image Credit: Business Insider
