Uganda’s journey to becoming an oil-producing nation is rapidly accelerating, marked by significant progress on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
In a powerful display of regional collaboration and commitment to oversight, the Boards of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) and Tanzania’s Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) this week undertook a joint inspection of the EACOP’s construction in Tanzania.
Led by Ms. Lynda Biribonwa, the PAU Board Chairperson, and Ms. Victoria Elangwa, EWURA’s Deputy Board Chairperson, this high-level visit underscores the transparent and accountable development of one of Africa’s largest infrastructure projects.
The joint delegation received a comprehensive briefing at EWURA’s Zonal Office in Dar-es-Salaam, covering crucial aspects of the project. Key updates from the briefing included:
Overall Project Progress
Both teams received detailed reports on the pipeline, above-ground installations (AGIs), and the critical Marine Storage Terminal (MST).
Financial Close
They confirmed securing US$1 billion in external financing in March 2025 for EACOP, a major milestone signalling strong investor confidence.
First Oil Expectation
The oversight tour reaffirmed that First Oil is still expected in 2026, keeping the project on its ambitious timeline.
Operational Readiness
The teams explored insights into real-time pipeline monitoring and advanced leak detection systems.
Risk Mitigation
Also key among their discussions was the implementation risks and the robust strategies in place to address them.
Following the briefing, the joint team embarked on field visits to key construction sites at the Chongoleani Peninsula and the Sigi River in Tanga, witnessing firsthand the scale and complexity of the ongoing works.
On-Site Progress and Tangible Milestones
The field visits revealed impressive progress across critical components of the EACOP, which include;
Marine Storage Terminal (MST)
The construction of the four massive storage tanks, each with a capacity of 500,000 barrels, is now 80% complete. Notably, Tank A is currently undergoing hydrotesting, a crucial stage to ensure structural integrity.
Overall terminal construction stands at 39% complete, while the crucial jetty and load-out facility are 78% complete, with an expected finish date of January 2026. This terminal is vital for crude oil export to waiting tankers.
The project also boasts a strong local content component, with 84% of the workforce being local, demonstrating significant economic benefits for Tanzanian communities.
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) at Sigi River
This technically challenging section, involving a 1.2 km crossing 15 meters below the river bed, is 63% complete and is expected to conclude by October 2025. HDD technology minimises environmental disruption, showcasing the project’s commitment to responsible development.
Driving Regional Economic Transformation
This joint oversight visit by the Ugandan and Tanzanian regulatory authorities is a powerful symbol of the bilateral cooperation needed for the success of the EACOP project. It not only ensures accountability and adherence to standards but also fosters shared confidence in the project’s execution.
Uganda’s oil and gas sector, with EACOP as its backbone, is set to unlock significant economic transformation.
The progress highlighted during this visit brings the vision of First Oil in 2026 closer to reality, promising substantial revenue generation, job creation, and economic development for both Uganda and Tanzania.
As construction advances, the focus remains on ensuring the project’s safe, timely, and environmentally responsible completion, setting a precedent for major cross-border infrastructure initiatives in East Africa.