KAMPALA, Uganda — The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project has reached 58% completion, an official with the company leading the development said recently.
Natasha Kassami, National Content and Capacity Building Lead at EACOP, provided the update while speaking to delegates at the 2025 Energy Convention in Kampala. The event was organized by the Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals.
EACOP is overseeing the construction of the 1,443-kilometer (approximately 897 miles) pipeline that will transport crude oil from Kabaale in Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.
Kassami said engineering work on the project is 98% complete and procurement of major equipment has reached 83%. She noted that nearly 80% of the pipeline has been manufactured in China and shipped to Tanzania for coating.
According to Kassami, 553 kilometers (about 344 miles) of the pipeline have been thermally insulated, 233 kilometers (about 145 miles) have been welded, and 57 kilometers (about 35 miles) have been coated, with 17 kilometers (about 10.5 miles) already buried.
The pipeline will include six pump stations and two pressure reduction stations, with two of each located in Uganda. Foundation work and equipment installations are underway at these sites. The project also includes intelligent monitoring systems.
Kassami emphasized the project’s focus on local capacity development, stating that 90% of the 2,483 people currently working on the project are Ugandan. She added that the project has reached over 8 million man-hours.
Since 2022, EACOP has spent approximately $111 million on local goods and services. The company has also sponsored technical training for 74 Ugandan graduates in countries such as Italy, Spain, India, and China, with many now employed by EACOP contractors.
To support local businesses, EACOP has conducted industry training for small and medium-sized enterprises and “Train the Trainer” programs for vocational and academic institutions. Kassami said EACOP is in discussions with Makerere University to incorporate energy sector knowledge into its curriculum.
The company is also preparing for the pipeline’s operational phase through its Field Operations Training Academy, with 141 field operators trained in Tanzania and Uganda so far.
“Our goal is to deliver meaningful impact,” Kassami said. “From technical skills development to institutional partnerships, we’re laying the groundwork not just for a pipeline, but for long-term national growth.”
