Uganda has approved East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Co. Ltd.’s application to build the 300,000-b/d pipeline, with construction expected to start in November 2023. EACOP will be developed jointly by Uganda and Tanzania, with the latter also committing to the project.
EACOP will carry crude 897 miles from Kabaale, Hoima district, Uganda, to the Port of Tanga, Tanzania, for export to the international market. Ugandan rights-of-way are still being acquired.
The buried, heated 24-in. OD pipeline will cost roughly $4 billion. EACOP Co. Ltd. includes affiliates of upstream partners Total Energies E&P Uganda (62%), Uganda National Oil Co. (UNOC, 15%), and China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) Uganda (8%), with the remaining 15% held by Tanzania Petroleum Development Corp. (TPDC).
The four companies last year took final investment decision on the Lake Albert development project in Uganda. Lake Albert development includes Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects and construction of EACOP. Tilenga, operated by TotalEnergies, and Kingfisher, operated by CNOOC, are expected to start producing in 2025 and reach a cumulative plateau production of 230,000 b/d (OGJ Online, Feb. 1, 2022).