The EACOP pipeline progress has reached 58%, marking a major milestone in East Africa’s biggest oil export infrastructure. Officials announced the update at the 2025 Energy Convention, held at the Serena Hotel in Kampala. The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) will transport crude oil from Uganda’s Kabaale region to Tanzania’s Tanga port.
Natasha Kassami, National Content Capacity Building Lead at EACOP, presented the progress during a session on emerging opportunities in Uganda’s oil and gas sector. She reported that engineering work is now 98% complete. Procurement has also reached 83%, covering most major pipeline components.
Factories in China have manufactured 80% of the 1,443-kilometre pipeline. Most of the pipeline has already been shipped to Tanzania for coating. Of the total, 553 kilometres are thermally insulated, 233 kilometres have been welded, and 57 kilometres coated. So far, workers have buried 17 kilometres underground.
The pipeline infrastructure includes six pump stations and two pressure reduction stations. Two of these are in Uganda, where teams have begun installing key equipment and working on the foundations. Advanced features like fibre optics and pig launchers will enhance monitoring and operational safety.
The project has also created thousands of local jobs. By early 2025, 2,483 people were working on EACOP, with Ugandans filling 90% of the roles. This employment boost reflects the project’s strong focus on national content.
Since 2022, EACOP has spent around $111 million on Ugandan goods and services. The company also supports technical training. It has sent 74 Ugandan graduates to countries like India, Italy, Spain, and China for specialized training. Many of them now work with top contractors such as Worley and Kellogg.
The company has also built local business and education capacity. EACOP conducted 28 training sessions for small and medium enterprises. It also ran 24 “Train the Trainer” programs to strengthen vocational and academic institutions.
Kassami noted that EACOP is working with Makerere University to integrate oil and energy knowledge into its formal curriculum. These efforts aim to grow a skilled workforce that can serve the sector beyond the current project.
To prepare for operations, EACOP launched the Field Operations Training Academy. So far, it has trained 141 field operators in Uganda and Tanzania. More sessions, including international training, are in the pipeline.
Kassami emphasized the broader vision behind the pipeline. She explained that the project supports long-term national growth through skills development, institutional partnerships, and industrial investment.
The EACOP pipeline progress reflects not only engineering success but also strong collaboration with communities and institutions. As completion draws closer, the pipeline stands as a major step toward energy security and economic transformation in East Africa.
