CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Three major pipeline developments across Africa are highlighting the continent’s push for energy security and economic transformation. These milestones come as the African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies conference in Cape Town prepares to spotlight the crucial role of cross-border infrastructure.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has reached 60% completion, the Republic of Congo has finalized a pipeline cooperation agreement with Russia, and Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea have signed a deal to advance a joint natural gas pipeline. These projects underscore the increasing momentum behind transnational pipeline initiatives in Africa, which are vital for unlocking hydrocarbon value chains, fostering industrial growth, strengthening regional cooperation, and combating energy poverty.
Related posts
AEW 2025, scheduled from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3 in Cape Town, will serve as a platform to explore how strategic partnerships and regional integration can transform pipelines into engines of inclusive development across Africa.
EACOP: Connecting Uganda to Global Markets
The 1,443-kilometer (897-mile) EACOP is set to connect Uganda’s oil fields in the Lake Albert region to Tanzania’s Tanga port. Once operational, it will facilitate the export of up to 246,000 barrels of oil per day. With 60% of the project complete, including land acquisition, environmental approvals and construction, EACOP is on track to become the world’s longest heated crude oil pipeline.
Beyond its logistical significance, EACOP is expected to create thousands of jobs, stimulate local content, and enable the development of ancillary infrastructure such as roads, storage facilities, and power lines. By allowing Uganda to monetize its crude reserves, the pipeline will also boost fiscal revenues that can be reinvested into critical sectors like energy access, education, and healthcare. At AEW 2025, stakeholders will examine how flagship projects like EACOP can balance investment with environmental responsibility and community development, while ensuring African nations retain sovereignty over their resources.
Russia-Congo Deal: A New Axis in Pipeline Diplomacy
Days after the EACOP update, Russia ratified a bilateral agreement with the Republic of Congo for the construction of the Pointe-Noire-Loutete-Maloukou-Trechot oil pipeline. This agreement sets the stage for joint efforts in planning, financing, constructing, and operating the pipeline, which is expected to be completed in three years. The move strengthens energy ties between the two nations and opens doors for Russian investment in Congo’s midstream sector, potentially accelerating infrastructure development for the country’s hydrocarbon resources.
This partnership also signals a shift in Africa’s external energy alliances, with Congo seeking non-Western partners to build its infrastructure and secure long-term offtake agreements. It reinforces the idea that diversified geopolitical engagement can help African nations bridge the infrastructure gap more quickly, provided partnerships are transparent and aligned with shared development objectives. AEW 2025 will offer a space to evaluate new alliances, discuss risk-sharing mechanisms, and align infrastructure development with continental priorities under the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Nigeria-Equatorial Guinea: A Boost for West African Gas Integration
A recent agreement between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, signed June 18, aims to fast-track a joint natural gas pipeline. The project is designed to increase cross-border gas trade and support export capacity, deepening energy cooperation, facilitating access to cleaner fuels, and diversifying regional energy sources. It exemplifies how collaborative infrastructure development can unlock new economic opportunities, stimulate investments, and enhance regional energy security.
Midstream infrastructure companies are also intensifying efforts to improve regional gas trade and distribution. The West African Gas Pipeline Company, with Chevron among its shareholders, operates a vital pipeline transporting Nigerian gas to Benin, Togo, and Ghana. This pipeline supports power generation and industrial use across several West African countries, playing a key role in diversifying the regional energy mix and promoting cross-border gas trade. Meanwhile, the Republic of Mozambique Pipeline Investments Company, which manages the Mozambique-South Africa Gas Pipeline, recently opened a new office in Maputo to strengthen regional gas connectivity and market integration.
Pipelines and the Fight Against Energy Poverty
Despite accounting for 17% of the global population, Africa generates only 3.3% of global power. Energy poverty remains a significant obstacle to industrialization, education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship. Pipelines, by transporting fuel across borders and into domestic markets, can help address this imbalance.
“In addition to exporting crude, new pipelines have the potential to deliver LPG and natural gas to underserved regions, reducing dependence on biomass and accelerating the shift toward cleaner household and industrial energy,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. He added that coordinated planning between countries can ensure pipelines are multi-purpose and scalable, with clear economic multipliers for local populations.
“AEW 2025 will shine a light on the role of pipelines in achieving universal energy access, examining regulatory frameworks, project finance models, and technology solutions that can make these developments more inclusive and efficient,” Ayuk noted.
