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The East African Crude Oil Pipeline project, crucial for oil production in the Albertine Graben, is advancing with the construction of two pump stations. The project, led by Uganda and Tanzania in partnership with Total Energies and CNOOC, aims for Uganda’s first oil extraction by 2025.

Construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a critical infrastructure project for oil and gas production in the Albertine Graben, is making significant strides with the ongoing construction of two pump stations, a crucial initial phase in the construction of the pipeline.

The government aims to see Uganda’s first oil extraction by 2025.

According to Hadi Watfa, the delivery manager of above-ground installations for EACOP, construction began early in 2024 and is progressing well.

There will be two pump stations in Uganda, with the first pump station (PS1) located in Nyamasoga village, Buseruka sub-county, Hoima district. PS1 will metre crude oil from the Tilenga project in Buliisa district and the Kingfisher oil field in Kikuube district before pushing it to the pipeline.

Construction of the main camp and pipe yard one (MCPY1) in Katikara, Kakumiro district, and CPY 2 in Mubende district is also ongoing. Clearing of all sites has been completed, and grading of PS1, CPY1, and CPY2 sites will soon be finished.

The project will feature two pump stations and four camp and pipe yards on the Ugandan side.

Watfa noted that China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. Ltd was contracted for construction work, including civil works and construction camps. Several Ugandan companies have been subcontracted for various tasks.

The EACOP project is being implemented by the governments of Uganda and Tanzania, represented by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), respectively, in partnership with Total Energies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). They operate under a company named EACOP Ltd.

Despite the development, the project aims to minimize environmental impact by recycling materials (soils) from the site to avoid disposal, reducing the impact by 80%. District authorities are engaged in using generated materials, such as soil, for road construction.

Topsoil is given to neighboring residents for farming, and a pond has been constructed to collect runoff water to prevent garden damage. Five water tanks are used to control dust.

However, a challenge has been the lack of a skilled workforce, necessitating investment in worker training. The company has been sourcing meat and chicken from outside Bunyoro due to local standards, though fruits and other fresh food are procured from the local community.

In an environmental mitigation effort, the EACOP implementers have allocated sh1.2 billion to plant trees in the 10 districts affected by the project.

John Bosco Habumugisha, deputy managing director of EACOP, mentioned that they are sourcing for an implementing partner to plant the trees, ensuring their growth and accountability.

On June 26, 2024, a team of officials from the Petroleum Authority Uganda (PAU), led by executive director Ernest Rubondo, inspected the progress of EACOP development projects in Hoima, Kakumiro, and Mubende districts.

“We have started at Pump Station One which is where the pipeline will start after oil is received from Tilenga in Buliisa district and Kingfisher in Kikuube district, towards Tanga in Tanzania. The preparation of the area is progressing very well,” Rubondo said.

“The progress of the work for the pipeline is good and this an important infrastructure in the development of the Ugandan oil and gas sector” he added.

Rubondo expressed optimism that Uganda would produce its first oil in 2025 and praised the project for adhering to international environmental standards. He urged those opposing the project to cease their objections, citing the project’s adherence to justified practices.

Rubondo commended EACOP for involving Ugandan firms in the sector and called on Ugandans, especially the people of Bunyoro, to tap into the oil and gas opportunities.

He highlighted the sector’s potential for employment and service provision and encouraged local participation in vocational training and commercial farming to supply the region’s growing population.

The EACOP infrastructure, set to cost an estimated shillings 12 trillion, will transport 400,000 barrels per day from Nyamasoga village in Buseruka sub-county, Hoima district, to Tanga Port in Tanzania.

In Uganda, the pipeline spans 296 km, traversing 10 districts and 25 sub-counties, while in Tanzania, it extends 1,147 km through 8 regions and 25 districts.