A crucial decision by China’s Exim Bank looms over the contentious East African Crude Oil Pipeline project, which Uganda considers vital for its economic development.
Ugandan Energy Minister Ruth Ssentamu revealed that the bank is expected to make a decision by December on providing finance for the $5 billion project.
The pipeline, stretching 1,443km from landlocked Uganda to Tanzania’s Tanga Port, has sparked intense debate. Approximately 80% of the pipeline will traverse Tanzanian territory, transporting 250,000 barrels of oil per day.
Environmentalists and human rights activists have raised concerns over the project’s potential impact on local communities, waterways, and wildlife. The European Parliament passed an emergency resolution in 2022, opposing the project due to its perceived threats to human rights and the environment.
Minister Nankabirwa, however, downplays these concerns, emphasizing Uganda’s need to utilize its natural resources for industrialization.
“The pipeline will be buried and insulated, mitigating environmental risks,” she said. “After construction, the area can be used again.”
Uganda maintains that as a poor, developing nation, it requires fossil fuel revenue to drive economic growth. The country discovered oil in 2006, but production has been delayed repeatedly.
The project’s shareholders, including the Uganda National Oil Company, TotalEnergies E&P Uganda, China’s CNOOC, and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, initially planned to fund the project with 40% equity and 60% debt.
However, due to challenges, equity now surpasses debt, and China’s Exim Bank is expected to provide crucial financing. If the bank declines, Uganda will explore alternative options, including 11 European banks.
South Africa’s Standard Bank, with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China as its largest shareholder, remains a potential financier.
The project’s CO2 emissions have also raised concerns, with estimates suggesting 20-45kg of CO2e per barrel, below the global average.
Conservation organizations, such as the World Wildlife Fund, have warned that the pipeline will disturb nearly 2,000 square kilometers of protected wildlife habitats, including the Murchison Falls National Park and the Taala Forest Reserve.
Uganda’s government argues that the project will generate essential revenue, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
As the world shifts towards decarbonization, Uganda’s reliance on fossil fuels has sparked controversy. The fate of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project will be closely watched, highlighting the complex balance between economic development and environmental concerns.
The project’s outcome will have significant implications for Uganda’s economic future and the global debate on fossil fuel development.
