Uganda and Tanzania are preparing to begin crude oil exports in October through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a landmark project expected to formally integrate East Africa into global oil markets for the first time.
The 1,443-kilometre (897-mile) pipeline runs from Uganda’s oil-rich Albertine Graben to the Indian Ocean port of Tanga in Tanzania. Valued at approximately USD 5 billion, the project was 75 percent complete by December 2025, according to government officials. About USD 3.3 billion has already been invested, with all major pipeline segments laid by November.
Ernest Rubondo, chief executive officer of the Uganda Petroleum Authority, described EACOP as “the backbone of Uganda’s crude oil exports and a catalyst for economic transformation.”
Energy ministers from Uganda and Tanzania reaffirmed the project’s timeline during a January 5 stakeholder meeting in Dar es Salaam, confirming July 31, 2026, as the target date for startup readiness. Construction is currently at peak intensity, with work ongoing on above-ground facilities as well as the marine export terminal at Tanga.
Once operational, EACOP will become the world’s longest heated crude oil pipeline, specifically engineered to transport Uganda’s waxy crude oil at temperatures of around 50 degrees Celsius. At full capacity, the pipeline is expected to carry up to 230,000 barrels of oil per day to the Tanzanian coast for export.
The pipeline is central to unlocking Uganda’s estimated 6.5 billion barrels of crude oil reserves, positioning the country as a new oil producer in Africa. However, analysts note that the project’s long-term viability will depend on global oil price trends and the timely completion of upstream oil production infrastructure.
Tanzania has already realised tangible economic benefits from the project. Authorities estimate that the country has earned about 50 billion Tanzanian shillings (USD 19.5 million) through development levies, taxes, and construction-related fees. In addition, approximately 1,200 Tanzanians have been employed during the construction phase, reinforcing Tanzania’s role as a regional energy transit hub.
Despite sustained opposition from environmental and human rights groups, project developers—including TotalEnergies and the China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC)—maintain that environmental safeguards have been integrated into the pipeline’s design. They say emissions management measures are in place and that pipeline operations will be powered largely by solar energy.
Overall, EACOP represents a strategic bet by Uganda and Tanzania on infrastructure-led growth, deeper regional cooperation, and expanded participation in global energy markets, even as debates continue over environmental impact and long-term energy transition risks.
