The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), also known as the Uganda–Tanzania Crude Oil Pipeline (UTCOP), has reached 64.5% completion, marking a major milestone in its construction.
The project has already generated TSh50 billion (about $19.5 million) for Tanzania through taxes, levies, and other construction-related charges.
The pipeline is expected to increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Uganda and Tanzania by more than 60% during the construction phase, according to the project’s official factsheet.
Spanning 1,443 kilometers, the EACOP is the world’s longest heated crude oil pipeline and will carry Uganda’s waxy crude oil from Kabaale-Hoima in western Uganda to the Chongoleani Peninsula near Tanga Port in Tanzania.
The pipeline is considered a key part of East Africa’s energy development and is expected to drive economic growth across the region.
To prevent the thick Ugandan crude from solidifying, the pipeline is fitted with electrical heating filaments along its entire length.
It also includes fiber-optic cables for satellite monitoring and real-time leak detection, a move aimed at reducing environmental risks and ensuring safe operations.
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Besides serving as an export route, the project includes plans for a domestic refinery in Hoima, Uganda.
This will allow part of the crude to be processed for local consumption while the rest is exported through Tanga, positioning the pipeline within global energy supply chains.
The EACOP is a $5 billion joint venture involving TotalEnergies with a 62% stake, Uganda National Oil Corporation and Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation each holding 15%, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation with 8%.
Tanzania’s EACOP Project Coordinator, Asiadi Mrutu, said during a recent appearance on TBC1 that the project has created jobs for 1,200 Tanzanians so far, including 346 people from communities near Chongoleani.
He highlighted this as a major step in supporting local employment and infrastructure growth.
Neema Mbuja, spokesperson for Tanzania’s Ministry of Energy, said the government is pleased with how the project is progressing and confirmed it is moving forward in line with the agreement signed in 2021.
While there have been environmental concerns and some challenges with financing, the pipeline continues to move forward.
Both Uganda and Tanzania view it as a long-term investment in economic transformation and regional trade integration.
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