EACOP Launches Coating Plant for Pipeline Construction

Summary:

• The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) inaugurated a coating plant to prepare and insulate line pipes for its 1,443 km route from Uganda to Tanzania. This marks a milestone in the project’s construction, enhancing energy security and regional cooperation. The plant, managed by EACOP, employs hundreds and emphasizes safety and sustainability. EACOP Ltd, governed by TotalEnergies and others, oversees the pipeline’s management.

---

The inauguration of a coating plant by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) marks a significant step in the preparation of the 1,443 km-long route from Hoima in western Uganda to the Tanzanian port of Tanga. This facility, managed by EACOP, will undertake the vital task of preparing and insulating all the line pipes to be laid along the route.

EACOP announced on Tuesday that the completion of the thermal insulation plant, coupled with the signing of the corridor lease agreement, represents a pivotal moment in the project’s construction phase. Situated at Sojo village in the Nzega District of the Tabora region, the plant will insulate both the line pipes and the 86,000 line pipe joints before their installation in Uganda and Tanzania.

The thermal insulation, akin to that of a thermos flask, serves to retain the heat of the fluid within the pipes while ensuring the external environment remains cool.

The inauguration ceremony also included the signing of land lease agreements between EACOP and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), following the completion of the land acquisition and compensation process in Tanzania, with Uganda reaching its final stages.

The event was attended by high-ranking officials including Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Doto Mashaka Biteko, Ugandan Energy Minister Ruth Nankwabira, EACOP executives, contractors, and local leaders.

Dr. Biteko expressed pride in the inauguration of the Thermal Insulation Workshop, emphasizing its role in advancing infrastructure capabilities and promoting regional economic growth and development. Ms. Nankwabira highlighted the initiative’s significance in enhancing energy security and fostering regional cooperation.

During the construction phase, approximately 500 individuals will be employed, with an additional 270 workers engaged in oil production activities. The coating plant, constructed and operated by EACOP’s level one contractor, Wasco Isoaf, symbolizes a joint effort between local and foreign entities.

Martin Tiffen, EACOP Managing Director, underscored the commissioning of the Thermal Insulation Workshop as a pivotal milestone in constructing the infrastructure necessary for safe oil transportation from Uganda’s Lake Albert region to international markets. He emphasized the plant’s commitment to safety, operational excellence, and sustainability, offering employment and up-skilling opportunities nationally and within local communities.

EACOP Ltd, governed by shareholders including TotalEnergies, Uganda National Oil Company, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), manages the pipeline as a special purpose company.

Follow @examinerug