Uganda’s EACOP Pipeline Nears Completion as First Crude Oil Exports Targeted for 2026
Construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is entering its final phase, with Uganda and Tanzania preparing for the start of crude oil exports through the cross-border project.
The 1,443-kilometre heated pipeline will transport crude oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert Basin to the port of Tanga on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast, where it will be shipped to international markets.
Developers expect construction to be completed by the end of July, with exports scheduled to begin in October.
EACOP will carry crude from Uganda’s Tilenga and Kingfisher oil fields and is designed to transport more than 200,000 barrels of oil per day, allowing Uganda to become a commercial oil producer and exporter for the first time.
The pipeline uses electrically heated technology to transport Uganda’s waxy crude over long distances.
Developers say pressure testing has been completed and the system will include monitoring and leak detection technology to support safe operations.
The project is expected to bring economic benefits to Uganda and Tanzania through investment, infrastructure development, employment and increased regional trade.
It also provides the export route needed to commercialise oil discoveries made in Uganda’s Lake Albert Basin nearly two decades ago.
EACOP has attracted major investment from international energy companies, including TotalEnergies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), which are also involved in developing the upstream Tilenga and Kingfisher projects.
The pipeline has faced international scrutiny over environmental and social concerns, particularly because parts of its route pass through areas with important ecosystems and communities.
Project developers and governments have said environmental protection measures and monitoring programmes are being implemented.
Once operational, EACOP will become one of the world’s longest electrically heated crude oil pipelines and a key piece of energy infrastructure for East Africa.
The start of exports will mark a major milestone for Uganda, transforming the country from an oil exploration destination into a crude oil-producing nation connected to global markets.
