With the arrival of the last batch of pipes for the 1,445-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Uganda’s first oil is now closer than ever.
The $2.3 billion project is a joint venture between the Government of Uganda through the Uganda National Oil Company, Total Energies Uganda, and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC).
Shipment of the crude oil pipes began in December 2023 and ended with the final 80 kilometres delivered on September 27, 2025, at Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania. In total, 18 shipments were made by Panyu Chu Kong Steel Pipe Company, the manufacturers.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Irene Batebe, said the delivery confirms that Uganda’s journey to First Oil remains on track. “The arrival of the pipes means the planned oil production is on schedule for next year,” she said, adding that the project has brought in major foreign investment and boosted infrastructure.
In 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast that Uganda’s economy will grow by double digits once oil starts flowing. The World Bank also expects oil revenues to play a major role in the country’s development. IMF projections show Uganda’s domestic revenues will rise from $15 billion (Shs52 trillion) in the first year of production to $19 billion (Shs66 trillion) within three years.
Work on the pipeline is progressing in three sections: Lake Albert to Mutukula on the Tanzanian border, Mutukula to Igugono in central Tanzania, and Igugono to Chongoleni in Tanga on the Tanzanian coast. So far, 800 kilometres have been welded, 300 kilometres coated with epoxy, and 115 kilometres buried underground. Installation of high-voltage cables along the route is also underway.