EACOP hits 91% completion as pipeline welding nears finish

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project has reached 91 per cent overall completion, slightly below the planned 94 per cent, with officials confirming that welding of the entire pipeline is largely complete.

EACOP deputy managing director John Bosco Habumugisha said progress had been affected by external factors, including global disruptions and health-related challenges.

“As we speak, the entire pipeline is generally welded. We should have been at 94 per cent, but there are many factors. The conflict in the Middle East affected many things. Some of our cargo was in Dubai, so we lost time and had to divert shipments to Oman,” Habumugisha said.

He added that the recent Ebola outbreak also slowed progress, particularly due to flight restrictions that disrupted logistics, but noted that the situation has since improved following Uganda’s declaration as Ebola-free.

Habumugisha said environmental restoration is being undertaken alongside construction, assuring that communities will barely notice the pipeline route once works are completed as the land will be restored to its original state.

He also highlighted the extensive legal and commercial groundwork that enabled the project, including negotiations of intergovernmental agreements between Uganda and Tanzania, as well as host government and shareholder agreements.

“This pipeline is an enabler infrastructure that will allow Uganda to export its crude oil to international markets while supporting the broader oil and gas value chain,” he said.

Chief Justice Flavian Zeija, who was part of a delegation that visited the project, said the tour provided firsthand insight into the progress of one of Uganda’s most strategic infrastructure developments.

“Out there, some people say there is no oil, but what we have seen shows there is significant work going on. We also appreciate the emphasis on local content, which is clearly visible,” Zeija said.

Bank of Uganda governor Michael Atingi-Ego said the project remains critical to Uganda’s economic outlook, noting that key government projections depend on its successful completion.

“If you look at the 2026/27 budget and our balance of payments projections, they are tied to this project. I came to confirm progress, and I am impressed,” Atingi-Ego said.

He also commended efforts to build local capacity in the oil and gas sector, noting that the involvement of Ugandans in key roles will deliver long-term benefits.

Pump Station One, the first of six stations along the 1,443-kilometre pipeline, will receive crude oil from the Tilenga and Kingfisher fields before it is transported to the export terminal in Tanga, Tanzania.

The project is now in its final phase of construction ahead of first oil, with EACOP seen as a key component in Uganda’s transition to commercial oil production.