Dar es Salaam. The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project has reached 79 percent completion and is on course for completion in July 2026, Tanzania’s minister for Energy, Mr Deogratius Ndejembi, has said.
Mr Ndejembi said the completion of the project is expected to contribute significantly to economic growth and boost government revenues for both Tanzania and Uganda, while enabling the transportation of up to 246,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
“The project has already delivered tangible benefits to the citizens of our two countries. About 12,000 jobs have been generated for Tanzanian and Ugandan nationals during the construction phase,” Mr Ndejembi noted.
He made the remarks on January 5, 2026, during an official inspection visit of the project by Uganda’s minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Dr Ruth Nankabirwa, who is in Tanzania to review progress on the construction of the pipeline.
Dr Nankabirwa is on a tour aimed at assessing the status of works on the Tanzanian section of the pipeline, which runs from Hoima in western Uganda to Chongoleani in Tanzania’s Tanga Region.
Mr Ndejembi said the project remains a flagship regional infrastructure undertaking and a symbol of strong cooperation between Tanzania and Uganda, adding that its timely completion is a shared priority for both governments.
For her part, Dr Nankabirwa expressed appreciation to the government of Tanzania for its commitment and close collaboration in the implementation of the EACOP project, saying the pipeline is already driving profound economic transformation and development across the East African region.
She also underscored the importance of establishing a structured system to recognise workers involved in strategic projects such as EACOP.
“Their experience and integrity should be leveraged to provide opportunities in future joint projects, including planned gas and electricity initiatives between Tanzania and Uganda,” she noted.
The EACOP pipeline stretches for a total of 1,443 kilometres, of which 296 kilometres are in Uganda and 1,147 kilometres are in Tanzania.
Once operational, it will serve as a critical export route for Uganda’s crude oil through the Tanzanian port of Tanga.
The project has so far created about 12,000 jobs, reinforcing its role not only as a strategic energy corridor but also as a significant source of livelihoods during its implementation phase.
