KAMPALA – The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project, a vital infrastructure initiative for oil and gas production in the Albertine Graben, is making significant progress. The ongoing construction of two pump stations marks a crucial initial phase in the pipeline’s development. The Ugandan government aims to commence oil extraction by 2025.
Hadi Watfa, the delivery manager of above-ground installations for EACOP, stated that construction began early in 2024 and is progressing well. Uganda will have two pump stations, with the first (PS1) located in Nyamasoga village, Buseruka sub-county, Hoima district. PS1 will meter crude oil from the Tilenga project in Buliisa district and the Kingfisher oil field in Kikuube district before pushing it into the pipeline.
Construction of the main camp and pipe yard one (MCPY1) in Katikara, Kakumiro district, and CPY 2 in Mubende district is also underway. Clearing of all sites has been completed, and grading of the PS1, CPY1, and CPY2 sites is nearing completion. The project includes two pump stations and four camp and pipe yards on the Ugandan side.
Watfa noted that China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. Ltd is the main contractor for the construction work, including civil works and construction camps. Several Ugandan companies have been subcontracted for various tasks.
The EACOP project is a collaborative effort between the governments of Uganda and Tanzania, represented by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), respectively. The project partners include Total Energies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), operating under a company named EACOP Ltd.
Despite the significant development, the project aims to minimize environmental impact by recycling materials (such as soils) from the site, reducing the impact by 80%. District authorities are involved in using generated materials for road construction, and topsoil is provided to neighboring residents for farming. Additionally, a pond has been constructed to collect runoff water to prevent garden damage, and five water tanks are used to control dust.
One challenge has been the lack of a skilled workforce, necessitating investment in worker training. The company sources meat and chicken from outside Bunyoro due to local standards, while fruits and other fresh food are procured from the local community.
In an environmental mitigation effort, EACOP implementers have allocated UGX 1.2 billion to plant trees in the 10 districts affected by the project. John Bosco Habumugisha, deputy managing director of EACOP, mentioned that they are seeking an implementing partner to ensure the trees’ 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. Watfa led the officials in inspecting the PS1 site in Nyamasoga village, Hoima district.
“We have started at Pump Station One, where the pipeline will begin after receiving oil 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 is an important infrastructure development for Uganda’s oil and gas sector.”
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 UGX 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.
