Summary:
- The first 100km section of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) from Hoima to Tanga port is set for construction, marked by the successful delivery of pipelines from China, as EACOP aims to responsibly contribute to the sustainable growth of East Africa despite previous challenges.
The inaugural 100km segment of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), connecting Hoima in Uganda to Tanzania‘s Tanga port, is ready for action as pipelines sourced from China have been successfully delivered. EACOP’s shareholders marked this significant step at an event hosted at the storage yard managed by SuperDoll, the project’s Tanzanian logistics partner.
A statement from EACOP’s Tanzanian office confirms that the arrival of these pipelines in Dar es Salaam signals the commencement of the pivotal construction phase for this ambitious transnational pipeline initiative. This venture, transporting crude oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert region to the Chongoleani peninsula near Tanga, represents a substantial investment in both Uganda and Tanzania.
The China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Ltd (CPP) has been tasked with constructing the pipeline and Above the Ground Installations (AGI) in both Uganda and Tanzania. Despite initial challenges with the port management in Dar es Salaam, these issues have been successfully resolved, according to Olivier Foulonnneau, EACOP’s Project Control Manager.
With the pipelines now on-site, EACOP is gearing up for the next steps, including the painting process and transportation using high-specification trucks. The project underscores its commitment to stringent social, environmental, and safety standards, integrating advanced technologies like vacuum lifting and ‘roborigging’ for line pipe lifting operations.
While the on-the-ground construction of the 1443km pipeline progresses, EACOP maintains its dedication to responsible project delivery, aiming to contribute to the sustainable growth and prosperity of East Africa. The comprehensive pipeline, spanning 1,443 km (296 km in Uganda and 1147 km in Tanzania), encompasses insulated and buried 24″ inch pipeline segments, pumping stations, pressure reduction stations, and a marine export terminal in Tanzania.
Following the Final Investment Decision (FID) in February 2022, East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd. concluded the formation of the company on February 15th, which will oversee the construction and operation of the pipeline.
